Galactic Notebook: Is LA the best playoff team; Paintsil's much needed goal; Pec wins Newcomer of the Year
On a weekend when the top MLS contenders couldn’t close out their Round 1 series, the LA Galaxy went to business in Colorado to sweep the series with a 4-1 win on Friday night.
It might be early or too small of a sample size, but the LA Galaxy looks like the best team in the MLS Cup Playoffs on both sides of the ball. Given the altitude, weather, and the Rapid's urgency to win at all costs, it was an impressive win for Greg Vanney’s men.
The G’s displayed ruthlessness and mental toughness to get through the end of the match with a win - Vanney agreed with that assessment postgame.
“I think both things were on display at the end, which was a group of guys that were working hard to protect the goal, protect their box, playing every play defensively,” said Vanney.
“Didn't mean it was perfect, but they were putting in the shift. When our group does that and we make the plays we need to make, the space on the other side is where we are ruthless.”
The main critique of the LA Galaxy is their defense isn’t playing at the elite level that their offense is performing at. However, most elite teams in MLS tend to have that type of issue, given the spending disparities between the attack and backline.
Take a look at Inter Miami, the favorites to win MLS Cup. Their backline has conceded nearly as many goals as the LA Galaxy this season. They let Atlanta United, the only team in the MLS Cup Playoffs with a negative goal differential, come alive and score a late winner to force a Game 3 in the game's final stages.
In contrast, the LA Galaxy battled with the Rapids in Game 2 for 90 minutes to close out the game before Riqui Puig scored two stoppage goals to put the final nail in the coffin for the Rapid’s 2024 season.
The Galaxy also didn’t have many moments where the Rapids took control of the match. Colorado never had a lead in this series or a moment of hope that they could cause a major upset in the first round.
The Columbus Crew’s elimination by the New York Red Bulls came as a shock to everyone. The Crew had been mentioned in the conversation among the best teams in MLS history by many pundits as the season progressed. The Red Bulls didn’t let those talks get to them and put up a brilliant fight to sweep the series on Sunday.
Even cross-town rivals LAFC couldn’t close their series out on the road. The black and gold had the talent advantage in this series and has experience playing the Vancouver Whitecaps in the postgame. Now, LAFC will have to play a third game, and their season could possibly come to an end.
The LA Galaxy took care of business and didn’t give the Rapids a window to extend their season. The other contenders couldn’t do it but LA did in dominating fashion.
“I think a lot of teams know that we are very good in attacking moments. And if we can step up in our defensive team, whether that's me, the back line, midfield or the front three, it doesn't matter,” said John McCarthy postgame.
“If we can find a way to come together as a group and be completely bought in as we have been for the last two weeks plus, then it's a great mentality to have. And it doesn't matter if we win games 1-0, 10-0, 10-9. It's all about that mentality to just find a way to win at the end of the game.”
“We are here to win MLS. I believe if we don’t win, it would be a massive disappointment,” said Puig to Apple TV.
The Galaxy is certainly the only team to show that edge and mentality in the MLS Cup Playoffs. It’s really hard to argue that the G’s aren’t playing the best soccer in playoffs. It makes sense why Puig is so high on this team winning it all.
If there is one player that needed a goal on Friday night, it was Joseph Paintsil. Ever since his excellent start to the 2024 campaign, the Ghanaian winger has been inconsistent with his offensive production.
His goal just before halftime helped LA start the second half with momentum and also gave him a much-needed boost of confidence for the rest of the postseason.
Vanney noted in his presser that he was happy for Paintsil to get back on the scoresheet and acknowledged the hard work he’s put on the left wing this season. Whether that’s tracking back on defense or making a hard run on the wing, Paintsil continues to add something to LA despite not scoring.
“It feels really good because I've been working for this moment for a while now, and me having these kinds of moments and having this kind of goal means a lot to me,” said Paintsil to reporters postgame.
With Pec and Puig taking a lot of the spotlight, Paintsil is the X-Factor in the playoff. Teams are scheming on how to eliminate other DP’s, but Paintsil likely won’t get as much attention because of his inconsistent production in front of goal.
This is where the killer instinct needs to take over for Paintsil. He has the talent and physical tools to put the LA Galaxy on his back when they need it - especially with every game being a single game from this point forward. The Galaxy made a massive investment in him to be this game-changer - playoffs are where you prove that.
Gabriel Pec’s opening goal in Colorado may have been mostly luck, but winning the 2024 MLS Newcomer of the Year Award is something he earned.
Pec was named the award winner on Monday morning by MLS, where the polling showed he won the majority of the player, media, and club vote to win the award over Miami’s Luis Suarez and Cinicianti’s Luca Orellano
Pec tallied 16 goals and 14 assists in his debut campaign in MLS for the LA Galaxy. He is the only player in the top 10 of goal contributions born this century. The last LA Galaxy player to win this award was Zlatan Ibrahimovic back in 2018.
The Brazilian winger was reportedly the LA Galaxy’s most expensive signing in club history. He’s been worth every penny for the club and fans who buy tickets to watch the former Vasco da Gama player.
His pace is blistering, his bag is deep with impressive skill moves and precise dribbling, he’s developed as a player that can operate well in the half spaces, and he’s a killer in front of goal. He puts butts in the seats at Dignity Health Sports Park and brings the oohs and aahs to the viewers across the country.
Both Suarez, last year’s Brazilian player of the year, and Orellano, Pec’s former teammate at Vacso, had quality campaigns but not near the level of Pec. Vanney and the LA Galaxy helped Pec develop from a raw, fast winger to a complete wide forward who knows how to operate in possession and score on a consistent basis.
He wasn’t the Galaxy's first option during the LA Galaxy’s search for a young, dynamic winger this offseason, but the LA Galaxy’s faith in him has certainly paid off.
(Photo Credit: LA Galaxy)