A Blessing in Disguise: A glass half full look at the LA Galaxy's Decision Day loss to Houston
Why the loss to Houston might be the "luck" the Galaxy needs in the playoffs.
Heads dropped when Houston Dynamo’s Daniel Steres scored late into stoppage time at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday night. It looked like the LA Galaxy had been eliminated in the playoffs, but that was far from the truth.
The 2-1 loss to the Dynamo and LAFC’s win over the San Jose Earthquakes meant the G’s dropped to second place in the Western Conference. The Galaxy had lost the ability to finish top of the West, which was disappointing- but not the end of the world.
“Of course, it's difficult as a defender to end like this, and I will not be able to sleep tonight on the way back,” Maya Yoshida told reporters postgame.
This game gave LA what it needed before its run in MLS Cup playoffs: a wake-up call and a bit of luck.
Why luck?
Every championship team competing in a playoff format needs luck - whether on the field or off the field. In the Galaxy’s case, that’s off the pitch in the form of the tournament setup.
Look at the MLS Cup playoffs bracket, especially where the LA Galaxy would have to go through.
The Galaxy will start the playoffs facing a Colorado Rapids squad that has lost four games in a row and likely with their creative engine, Djordje Mihailović, at less than 100% due to an ankle sprain.
If LA were to advance, then it would play an RSL side that has lost much of its bite since the middle of the season or a Minnesota squad with little to no experience in the playoffs.
In six games against those three teams, the Galaxy has an unbeaten record of four wins and two draws.
Compare that with the other side of the bracket that features a Seattle side that has lost just twice in its last 17 MLS matches, a Portland Timbers team that’s capable of beating anyone on their day, and a Houston squad that’s getting into a groove.
Agasint those three teams, LA has a record of three wins, one draw, and two losses.
On paper, the Galaxy is on the easier side of the Western Conference bracket. That’s important because it allows the Galaxy to have the stronger teams in the West run themselves into the ground against tougher opponents. The records also show LA is unbeaten against teams on their side of the bracket this season.
During Euro 2024, England benefited from getting on the “easier” side of the bracket. Other sports as well have featured teams getting seeded on an easier side of the bracket, but let’s stay with soccer.
One side of the Euro 2024 bracket had powerhouses France, Belgium, Portugal, Germany, and Spain, while the other side featured England, Italy, and the Netherlands.
England might not have had the most convincing run to the European Final, but they made it to the final - and that’s all that matters in tournament play.
The Galaxy might have messed up being the top seed, but that might have been a blessing in disguise, given how the bracket shaped out on the Western Conference side.
The loss to Houston also gave the LA Galaxy a glimpse into what a potential elimination would feel like.
LA was physically and emotionally invested in getting the top seed. There were chances for the LA Galaxy to take the lead, but a lack of finishing or impatience kept the G’s from putting this game to bed.
“We take a play slightly off or don't get all the way to where we need to be and we don't do the things we need to do, it can be the end of our season really fast. It's a harsh lesson, and it's not like our first lesson of this year, but it's a harsh lesson,” said Vanney to reporters.
“The guys feel like crap right now, as everyone should at this moment, with the way that it ended. But at the same time, the tournament and the Cup is in front of us, and now we have to make sure that these things don't happen again."
This Galaxy team doesn’t have much experience in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Only Riqui Puig, Mark Delgado, Gaston Brugman, Martin Caceres (injured) and Dejan Joveljic remain from the Galaxy’s last appearance in the playoffs in 2022.
Vanney and the rest of the LA Galaxy coaching staff will preach all week long about not wanting to repeat this feeling when it matters.
It’s hard to get the message into your players when you haven’t had that little heartbreak. The Galaxy, at times, can be a little arrogant on the pitch when they’re feeling it - this is still a team that will have fun with their fancy passes and pass you to death with ease to close out a match or for their own entertainment.
A little humbling never hurts anybody - in fact, it mostly leads to much-needed self-reflection.
The loss to Houston on decision day is a soft reminder that the club isn’t going to have any easy moments in the playoffs. It's better to have that reality check and self-reflection now than when you’re eliminated from the playoffs.
If the Galaxy wins MLS Cup this season, don’t be surprised when players and coaches mention the importance of this loss to Houston.