High-scoring Galaxy host Sounders with MLS Cup final on the line

They arrived at the final stop of the Western Conference play-off race via different routes.

Going into overdrive on offense, the Galaxy looked unstoppable, scoring 15 goals in three play-off games, setting a new MLS record to start the play-offs.

“I think the group is locked in and playing with a purpose,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “We’re connected and we’re playing with real intent, and when we do that I think we’re a really good team. We’re making the right decisions.”

On the other side stands the reinforced defense of the Seattle Sounders, their opponent in Saturday night’s Western Conference final.

In their two-game series against the Houston Dynamo, the Sounders scored and allowed just one goal in regulation and won both games via penalty kicks. In the conference semifinals, Seattle played 120 minutes. LAFC leads, 2-1.

“When you talk about Seattle and the playoffs and this time of year, you have to talk about the culture at the club,” Vanney said. “Courage, endurance, maturity. They played in a lot of big games and won a lot of big games.

“So for me, it’s been a transformation of players and personalities over the years; even if new guys come in or young guys come in, the culture is set for those guys, they work, they grind and they make things difficult. They defend and they have players that can hurt you on offense. Getting rid of them and keeping them that way.” “It’s going to take every play, every moment, to get you into a situation.”

This leaves the Galaxy in their first conference final since 2014 and one win away from their first MLS Cup final since the same year. As expected, things haven’t been easy against the Sounders this season.

The teams met three times. Galaxy won the first competition (March 30) with a goal from Gabriel Pec in the fourth minute. The teams met in Seattle on May 5, and the match ended in a goalless draw. Galaxy had neither Dejan Joveljic nor Riqui Puig for this. The third match took place in the 32nd Round of the Leagues Cup tournament (8 August). The Sounders took a 2-0 lead before the 10th minute. cruised to a 3-1 victory.

“They kind of bullied us in front of the goal and headed the ball in,” Vanney said of the third encounter, in which the Sounders scored twice from corner kicks.

The Sounders haven’t scored many goals, but they certainly don’t allow many goals to be scored either. They led the league in allowing just 35 goals in the regular season, which presents another challenge for the Galaxy.

“They do a lot of things well on the defensive end, both collectively and individually,” Vanney said. “We have to find ways to break them, create scoring chances, and finish the moments when we have opportunities.