Inside the Sixth: The Stories of the 2024 MLS Cup winning LA Galaxy
Quotes from players during the LA Galaxy's locker room celebrations
It took a decade, but the LA Galaxy is back. The original MLS club now has six MLS Cup titles following the 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bull in December. 7 - 10 years to the day from the last MLS Cup Final victory.
The LA Galaxy’s explosive offense settled in quickly. Gaston Brugman, playing in the place of the injured Riqui Puig, played a perfectly weighted through ball for Joseph Paintsil to finish in the 9th minute of the match. Four minutes later, the Galaxy doubled the score with Dejan Joveljić outside of the boot strike.
With that goal, the LA Galaxy holds the record for the most goals scored in a single MLS Cup Playoff campaign with 18.
The Red Bulls weren’t going to go away easily. Sean Nealis capitalized on LA’s inability to clear the ball from the box following a corner to get one back for the New York side.
The second half was tense, gritty, and full of chances for both teams. But the LA Galaxy closed it out and won its sixth MLS Cup. DHSP exploded just as you would expect a stadium that’s been looking to cry MLS Champions once more.
The LA Galaxy was the best team in the MLS Cup Playoffs, and the MLS Cup victory immortalized their efforts. LA Galaxy captain Maya Yoshida lifted the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy in the air to conclude the 2024 season.
Brugman was the man tasked to fill in place of the injured Riqui Puig in the biggest game of the season. It was his first start since Oct. 5, and he had only played 45 out of 360 available minutes in the playoffs. It was a bold move from Vanney, but it made sense.
While he doesn’t have the same exact playstyle as Puig, Brugman is the type of player who tends to move the ball forward rather than recycle it sideways. It was going to be impossible to replace Puig but not find somebody who could
The Galaxy needed a player who could break lines and take advantage of the pacey wingers. That was the exact recipe for LA’s first goal – Brugman’s quality shined and helped set the tone for LA early.
He finished the match with an assist, two interceptions and won seven of 11 duels in 75 minutes of action. He helped the Galaxy keep control of the midfield and was key to progressing LA’s offense. His shift didn’t go unnoticed, as Brugman was named the MLS Cup MVP following the match.
“Gaston was able to step in and win balls; he played an incredible pass through the lines. He was a warrior in both directions, and I’m happy for him,” said Vanney to reporters postgame.
Brugman suffered a meniscus tear in the middle of the 2023 season, which ruled him out for the rest of the campaign. He was a locked-in starter for the LA Galaxy, but his injury, combined with the ascension of Edwin Cerrilo, saw his role and playing time diminish.
“Emotional, happy, you work for these moments,” said a buzzing Brugman during the LA Galaxy’s locker room celebrations. His teammates were chanting his name while talking to me, and you could see how much it meant to him after overcoming a difficult year.
“Today is a moment to create history. After a long year, today was the moment to write ourselves in history.”
Brugman was on the verge of becoming another rotation player on the team, but his MLS Cup MVP performance immortalized him in LA Galaxy lore.
Alongside Brugman in the midfield, Mark Delgado was looking to create the memory of a lifetime. The now two-time MLS Cup winner grew up in Pomona, CA, where he grew up watching LA Galaxy soccer. Opportunities to win silverware for your hometown team don’t come often - Delgado put in a shift to make that dream a reality.
The 12-year MLS veteran was key to the LA Galaxy’s press in the midfield trenches. He made the Red Bulls lose momentum when they possessed the ball and was to help the Galaxy maintain possession. Take a look at his heatmap below:
“I gave my everything out there. I went up for a header, and I fell and landed on my shoulder. My shoulder is fucked right now,” said Delgado during the locker room celebrations.
“The high press, come back and help defend; I got an assist on the second goal. It’s just a great feeling to be MLS Cup champions again.”
Delgado fell to the floor as soon as the final whistle blew, and the emotion overcame him. He began his professional career in Carson with Chivas USA back in 2012 and reached immortality for his boyhood club in 2024. Players dream of having career arch, but that’s now Delgado’s reality.
Emiro Garces sat in the LA Galaxy locker room on the phone while celebrations were going on. The 23-year-old defender is living on his own currently, having joined the LA Galaxy in the middle of the 2024 season. As he was talking to friends and family in his native Colombia, his MLS Cup Final performance was being praised and mentioned as a major reason for the Galaxy’s victory.
He won nine of 13 duels, recorded a game-high five interceptions, and won two of two tackles in 90 minutes of action against the Red Bulls. Garces flashed his speed to keep up with New York’s fast attackers, and his aggression resulted in LA winning back the ball. Not much got past him - another reason why my nickname “The Minister of Defense” makes so much sense.
The Galaxy struggled in the first part of the season to build an elite center back partnership. Martin Caceres was inconsistent before his season-ending injury, and the young Jalen Neal didn’t have the athleticism needed to complement the 36-year-old Maya Yoshida. The addition of the Colombian is what transformed the Galaxy into an elite defense, and the numbers back it up.
It took some time for Garces to become part of the Galaxy’s starting XI, but it was worth it. In an interview with Fox Sports, Garces mentioned how important Cáceres was to his transition to the Galaxy. He said Cáceres treated him like his son and mentored him during the season.
“This was God’s purpose; he wanted me to be on this championship-winning team that’s gone 10 years without a title,” said Garces in Spanish. He thanked the fans for their support during this playoff run and for making him feel at home.
I asked Garces if he was a fan of the nickname “The Minister of Defense,” his large smile told me all I needed to know. Safe to say the Galaxy is going to be well taken care of for years to come by Garces
What’s special about the LA Galaxy is the legacy and multiple generations of fans the club has cultivated. The club’s academy system not only enriches local players with the dream to play for the LA Galaxy but also become champions for the club.
Jalen Neal and Mauricio Cuevas have grown up together and been there for each other for every major moment of their young careers. From playing in the LA Galaxy Academy, winning the CONCACAF U-20 championship in 2022, to now being crowned MLS Cup champions with the LA Galaxy.
“We were both crying out to the game, thinking since we were 14 years old, our only goal was to come here to make an impact and to make history, and that’s what we’ve done tonight,” said Neal while getting doused with beer in the locker room.
“To do it with one of my brothers that I grew up with, no better feeling than that,” said Cuevas. “I love all these guys. I love Jalen to death.”
Both players celebrated by singing along to music in the locker room and spraying each other with champagne, celebrating with the team. Their youthful energy was on display as a reminder that the LA Galaxy is one of the clubs in MLS that is now producing homegrown MLS Cup winners.
All season long, Paintsil has delivered one clear theme: The 2024 LA Galaxy will be killers. That’s been on display since the LA Galaxy’s second game of the season, where he recorded a goal and assist on a road trip to San Jose.
The Ghanaian winger stood on business by delivering the game's opening goal and terrorizing the Red Bulls on the left wing for most of the match. He was LA’s transition outlet and the main offense source during the first half.
“We play really good football,” said Paintsil. “Our attack is really strong, our midfield is fantastic, and our outer defense is extraordinary, so what else can I not talk about” he added.
It was a nervous game at times, but the Galaxy finished it off and recorded another MLS Cup title in their history. A key part of that was developing the killer mentality that previous Galaxy teams failed to possess.
“Like I said earlier in the season, we will kill a lot of teams. And as you can see, we’ve done that this season,n winning the West and the league,” said Paintsil.
“We are the best, and we will always be the best,” he added.
It’s quite literally been a long season for Paintsil; he’s played in 41 games since the start of the calendar year for both club and country. This much-needed break comes at a good time for Paintsil and fans of his music.
The Ghanaian will spend time with family and teased the idea of new music coming out. Paintsil’s desire to be a winner was infectious and a key part of the LA Galaxy ending the season at the mountain top. His simple idea of being killers become the club’s rallying cry at the business end of the season, where survival of the fittest is key. Without Paintsil, another year passes by when the Galaxy doesn’t have “it.”
Paintsil like Dejan play well in big moments Dejan always shows up in big games. The Captain has high expectations and he is grooming the young defenders. It was incredible to watch a player like Nelson grow right in front of us. Nelson is the business. Another Robbie Rogers maybe.
What a great article Alex! This was definitely a great way to summarize the ending to an amazing season. Keep up the great work man, I look forward to hearing you on the Corner of the Galaxy soon.