MLS, or Major League Soccer, is the highest tier of football in the USA. That said, of the 29 clubs that competed in the 2024 campaign, three were from Canada. The competition began in 1996 and LA Galaxy were probably the first team that most UK fans were familiar with. That is because, in January 2007 it was announced that David Beckham would be leaving Real Madrid to join the west coast club.
MLS, and indeed, LA Galaxy, have come a long way since then, as has David Beckham, who now co-owns an MLS franchise in the shape of Inter Miami. A certain Lionel Messi plays for Beckham’s Miami, which is indicative of the huge profile and allure MLS now has. Beckham was a huge part of that, with his decision to join LA Galaxy giving the sport in North America a huge boost.
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and PSG winger, who was capped 115 times by England, helped guide Galaxy to two MLS Cup wins (in 2011 and 2012). Becks spent six seasons at the club, with 61 of his 118 appearances for them coming in those two title-winning campaigns.
Fast forward a mere 12 years, which certainly makes us feel rather old, and LA Galaxy have just claimed the MLS Cup once again. On the 7th of December 2024, they beat New York Red Bulls 2-1 in the showpiece clash. That brought the franchise their sixth title, extending their lead in terms of overall wins.
Galaxy Come Out on Top as East Meets West
The 2024 MLS Cup saw two sides from LA and New York meet for the first time. Galaxy are no strangers to the big game, having appeared in the season-ending game a record 10 times including this clash. They have played in all 29 seasons of the competition to date, meaning they have made it to the MLS Cup more than one-third of the time.
Despite that hugely impressive record, this was their first final since 2014, which was also the last time they were crowned champions. All nine of their previous appearances were condensed into a narrow window of glory between 1996 (when they lost) and that 2014 success. It wasn’t all plain sailing though, with the LA outfit actually losing three MLS finals in a row before they managed to chalk up their first success.
Nonetheless, coming into the 2024 finale they were certainly the far more experienced club in terms of this decisive game. The Red Bulls were making just their second appearance at the business end of the tournament, having lost the final in 2008. Sadly for them, the record in the final now reads two appearances, two defeats. Although before anyone feels too sorry for them, spare a thought for New England Revolution.
The Boston-based (technically they play in Foxborough, around 20 miles from the centre of Boston) Revs have played in five finals and lost them all. That’s some record, and one the Red Bulls will be desperate not to come any closer to emulating.
Frantic Start Before Game Settles
🏆 FIRST TO SIX 🏆 pic.twitter.com/tAH6gvgNOK
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) December 7, 2024
Returning to the 2024 final, it was a 2-1 win for LA, as said, and they were actually two goals to the good inside just 13 minutes after a frantic and action-packed start to the clash. Joseph Paintsil opened the scoring after just nine minutes, the Ghanaian winger side-footing past Red Bull stopper Carlos Coronel. Just four minutes later Serbian striker Dejan Joveljic doubled the lead, the former Eintracht Frankfurt man powerfully carrying the ball 30 yards or so before a deft flick with the outside of the boot found the bottom corner of the net.
At that stage, any Red Bull fans who had made the journey to the Dignity Health Sports Park, LA Galaxy’s home ground, must have been wishing they’d stayed home, even if the sunshine would have been welcome. However, they didn’t have to wait too long to see their side hit back.
There was not yet half an hour on the clock when they got themselves back in the game through Sean Nealis. The centre back, from Long Island, New York, had almost scored an own goal, heading a free-kick onto his own bar. However, he more than made amends for that scare by scoring at the other end of the pitch and a fine goal it was too.
Galaxy were unable to deal with a corner and after the ball bounced around the area it fell to the American defender. He calmly chested the ball down and planted a volley into the corner from close to the penalty spot.
Second Half Action
The second half saw plenty more action, with both sides hitting the woodwork, but there were no more goals. Red Bull, who almost equalised when former Red Bull Leipzig attacker Emil Forsberg hit the bar. Forsberg, who is closing in on 100 caps for Sweden, had a quiet game, that his only shot of the clash, but it wasn’t to be for him or his side.
The New York side are now only the second team to have appeared in more than one MLS Cup without lifting the trophy. Although they had more possession (59% to 41%), they were unable to make it count. Galaxy, who also hit the woodwork in the second period, looked more dangerous, and had twice as many shots on target, leading to an xG exactly double that of RB.
The result was not a huge surprise, given Galaxy finished second in the Western Conference during the regular season. They finished level with city rivals Los Angeles FC, both teams taking 64 points from their 34 games, boasting 19 wins. In contrast, New York RB finished way down in seventh in the Eastern Conference.
They accrued just 47 points and were well adrift of Beckham and Messi’s Inter, who led the standings both in the Conference and overall with 74 points. RB did very well to make it to the MLS Cup, becoming the lowest seed to do so, but in the end, the class and extra big-match experience of their opponents told.