The elimination of Columbus Crew and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami from Major League Soccer’s post-season playoffs has left the field wide open. The two Los Angeles clubs — LA Galaxy and LAFC — are best positioned to take advantage of this and there’s the prospect of a big LA derby in the Western Conference final.
By James Nalton
It was widely expected that the Eastern Conference representative in the MLS Cup final would be one of the two MLS Cup favourites Columbus Crew or Inter Miami, but both suffered shock exits in the first round.
Defending MLS Cup champions Columbus were the first to fall, losing the first game of their round one best-of-three series against New York Red Bulls at home before going on to lose the second on penalties in New Jersey.
The much-lauded team who, under coach Wilfried Nancy, have been one of the most entertaining sides in MLS history, were out without even taking the Red Bulls to game three.
This left the Eastern Conference door wide open for Inter Miami whose best-of-three series with wildcard qualifier Atlanta United was poised at 1-1.
Tata Martino’s Inter Miami side had produced the best regular season in MLS history on their way to winning the Supporters’ Shield — the trophy awarded to the overall league leaders at the end of the season when the Eastern and Western conferences are combined. Their tally of 74 points broke the previous record of 73 set by New England Revolution in 2021.
With Messi back from injury, Miami were expected to put the icing on the cake with an MLS Cup triumph but lost the game three decider against Atlanta United in what was the biggest upset in MLS playoff history.
While this provides an opportunity for the other teams in the Eastern Conference to make an unlikely run to the MLS Cup final, it is even more of a boost for the two Los Angeles clubs on the opposite side of the bracket who will now have their eye on winning it.
LA Galaxy and LAFC finished level on points in the Western Conference regular season standings, with LAFC topping the table on goal difference by just one goal.
Now Supporters’ Shield winners Inter Miami and runners-up Columbus Crew are out of the playoffs LAFC, who finished third in the overall standings, are the highest seed remaining in the post-season and will enjoy home advantage for as long as they remain in the playoffs. Similarly, should the Galaxy make it all the way to the MLS Cup final, they will host.
LAFC face Seattle Sounders in the conference semifinal. It won’t be an easy task as the Sounders went into the playoffs with the fewest goals conceded in the regular season and a solid defence can take a team far in the playoffs.
If there is to be an upset in the West, this is the most obvious place for it, but the way these playoffs have gone so far, anything can happen anywhere.
It is for this reason LA Galaxy will need to be careful as they face Minnesota United in their game. On paper, it looks like the easiest of the semifinals but Minnesota finished the season well under Welsh head coach Eric Ramsay.
If both Los Angeles clubs win, it will set up an LA derby — known as El Tráfico — in the Western Conference final at the home of LAFC to decide which team progresses to and hosts the MLS Cup final.
In Denis Bouanga, LAFC boast one of the best players not to be featured among the 2024 MVP finalists. The Gabon international forward leads MLS for expected goals in 2024 with 22.7.
Meanwhile, his teammate Mateusz Bogusz is one of the more underrated star players in the league. He was as important as Bouanga to his side’s Western Conference table-topping performance in 2024 and stands out among attacking players for his total touches and chances created, as shown by his Player Traits chart.
Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig is the most gifted player in the league not named Lionel Messi, as shown by his position just behind Messi in FotMob’s average ratings.
Puig dictates games from a creative midfield role. He tops the league for the most accurate passes per game and for touches as the only player with over 3,000. He’s also 5th in the league for successful dribbles.
Gabriel Pec was another of the Galaxy’s standout players in the regular season and was named Newcomer of the Year ahead of Luis Suárez, reaching double figures for both goals (16) and assists (12).
Pec and fellow new signing Joseph Painstil have been a big reason for the Galaxy’s turnaround in 2024, and will play a big role should they make it all the way to the MLS Cup final.
Who the Western Conference winner face in the MLS Cup final is anyone’s guess. In the Eastern Conference semifinals, there’s a New York derby between Red Bulls and City, while Atlanta’s reward for knocking out Inter Miami is a meeting with Orlando City.
The LA clubs will fancy their chances against all of these teams but first, they have to get past their conference semifinal opponents, and then potentially each other in what would be one of the biggest El Tráfico matches in MLS history.
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
You can follow every match from the MLS Playoffs live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.