CARSON, CA – The New York Red Bulls’ 2024 playoff run ends at the last stop as the LA Galaxy hold on for a 2-1 win at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday afternoon. The two first-half goals that sunk their championship hopes didn’t paint the full picture of a game where the team battled pre-game injuries as well as an organized Galaxy squad.
The game was marred by a pre-game change that cost the Red Bulls a bench spot. Andres Reyes left the game due to illness, leaving the team to coup with an understanding of a backline that hasn’t played together in the playoffs thus far. Joseph Paintsil took full advantage by marauding down the left wing, taking on Dylan Nealis and creating dangerous opportunities. One of those chances came early when Gaston Brugman played Paintsil through for the game’s opening goal. Just minutes later the lead doubled when Dejan Joveliic dribbled through the defense and beat goalkeeper Carlos Coronel.
From there the pace of the game shifted. While the Red Bulls didn’t have a shot on target through the first 25 minutes, they began to control the game a bit more in their own chaotic way. They forced a corner kick and were able to find their only goal of the game when the ball fell to defender Sean Nealis. That goal raised the confidence of Sandro Schwarz’s men as they were able to plug their defensive gaps and push for more on offense.
The second half saw the Galaxy play a more passive game, ceding possession to the Red Bulls who did their best to force panic defending from the Galaxy. To their credit, the MLS Cup champions pushed back with counter opportunities that forced saves from Coronel and hitting a post. Red Bulls’ best chance came late when a counter attack saw Lewis Morgan carry the ball into the box, find Elias Manoel who finally found star-player Emil Forsberg for the shot. The Swede put the ball wide of the net.
New York threw everything at the wall from that point forward with substitutions that included maligned striker Corey Burke. They were unable to find the goal, ending their hopes of a first ever MLS Cup and sending fans home disappointed.
While the team fell short of their goals, it was anything but a failure in 2024. Red Bull qualified for their second ever MLS Cup and defeated stiff competition along the way, having had just one home game in five playoff tries. They will return next season with a confidence in their head coach and their team that should see them as a team that shouldn’t be underestimated as much as they were in 2024.
STARTING XI:
New York Red Bulls: Coronel; D. Nealis (84′ Burke), S. Nealis, Eile, Harper, Edelman (84′ Carmona), Stroud (65′ Donkor), Tolkin, Forsberg, Vanzeir (65′ Manoel), Morgan
LA Galaxy: McCarthy; Yamane, Garces, Yoshida, Nelson, Delgado, Cerillo, Brugman (75′ Reus), Pec, Joveliic (79′ Fagundez), Painstil (90′ Jalen Neal)
SCORING SUMMARY:
9′ (LA Galaxy) Joseph Paintsil assisted by Gaston Brugman & Edwin Cerillo
13′ (LA Galaxy) Dejan Joveliic unassisted
29′ (New York Red Bulls) Sean Nealis unassisted
DISCIPLINE:
35′ (New York Red Bulls) Noah Eile – YELLOW CARD
39′ (LA Galaxy) Mark Delgado – YELLOW CARD
71′ (New York Red Bulls) Cameron Harper – YELLOW CARD
photo by Matt Kremkau