LA Galaxy reinvent themselves to win 2024 MLS Cup: How they did it without Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Chicharito

The Galaxy won the MLS Cup final on Saturday, doing something they never came close to accomplishing with bigger names in recent years

CARSON, Calif. – Saturday's MLS Cup final between the LA Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls felt easy to predict, in some ways. The Galaxy would take the role as the flashy side that counts Marco Reus amongst its talent and serve as the favorites after finishing second in the Western Conference, while the Red Bulls would act like the scrappy No. 7 seed that became the lowest-seeded MLS Cup finalist. The Galaxy did get the better of the visitors … for about 15 minutes before the game took an entirely different complexion.

The Galaxy scored two goals in the opening 13 minutes courtesy of Joseph Pantsil and Dejan Joveljic which was just enough to survive the Red Bulls' push to get back into the game. Sean Nealis' 28th-minute goal off a set piece ensured the Red Bulls would be on the front foot for the rest of the game, dominating on the ball after averaging just 31.3% possession in their four other playoff games. The attack-minded Galaxy became a defense-first Galaxy, limiting the Red Bulls to just 0.91 expected goals from nine shots and eventually winning their sixth MLS Cup.

MLS' most successful team got across the finish line by surviving the absence of Riqui Puig, their MVP contender who tore his ACL a week ago in the conference final and while Reus was on the bench. Gaston Brugman was instead a surprise star after slotting into the lineup despite a season of inconsistent playing time, notching the assist on Pantsil's game-opening goal. This merely scratches the surface on the Galaxy's unexpected journey to their first MLS Cup in 10 years.