Honestly, if you told a soccer fan back in August that the LA Galaxy would be hoisting their sixth Philip F. Anschutz Trophy while Lionel Messi was already on vacation, they’d probably have asked what you were drinking.
But that's exactly what went down.
The play off mls 2024 didn't follow the script. Not even a little bit. We all expected a pink-tinted coronation in Miami. Instead, we got a chaotic, record-breaking postseason that ended with the Galaxy reclaiming their throne in a 2-1 thriller against the New York Red Bulls on December 7. It was their first title in a decade. A decade! For a club that basically invented the "superclub" model in the US, ten years felt like an eternity.
The Miami Meltdown Nobody Saw Coming
You can't talk about the play off mls 2024 without talking about the upset of the century. Inter Miami was a juggernaut. They had the points record (74). They had the Supporters' Shield. They had Messi, Suárez, Alba, and Busquets.
Then came Atlanta United.
Atlanta entered the playoffs as a 9-seed through the Wild Card. On paper, they shouldn't have been in the same zip code as Miami. But Brad Guzan—who is basically a human wall at this point—decided he wasn't ready for the season to end. Miami won the first game 2-1, but Atlanta clawed back in the second. By Game 3 at Chase Stadium, the unthinkable happened. Despite Messi scoring a vintage header, Bartosz Slisz buried a 76th-minute winner to send the favorites packing in the first round.
It was the largest points-gap upset in league history. Thirty-four points separated them in the regular season. It just goes to show that in a Best-of-3 series, regular-season vibes don't mean squat.
The Galaxy’s Historic Scoring Spree
While Miami was falling apart, the LA Galaxy were busy turning the Western Conference into a highlight reel. They didn't just win; they annihilated people. They put nine goals past the Colorado Rapids in two games. Then they dropped six on Minnesota United.
By the time the play off mls 2024 reached the final, Greg Vanney’s squad had set a new record for the most goals in a single postseason campaign with 18. They outscored their playoff opponents by a staggering 14 goals.
The most insane part? They did the final without Riqui Puig.
Their talismanic Spaniard tore his ACL during the Western Conference Final against Seattle. He actually played 30 minutes on a torn ligament just to make sure they got through. That’s legendary. But it left a massive hole for the final.
Gastón Brugman: The Unlikely Hero
Enter Gastón Brugman. He hadn't started a ton during the regular season due to injuries and the sheer depth of the roster. But in the final, he was a monster. He assisted Joseph Paintsil’s opener in the 9th minute with a ball that was basically a heat-seeking missile.
Brugman was eventually named the MLS Cup MVP. He's the first Uruguayan to ever get that trophy.
That Wild Final at Dignity Health Sports Park
The atmosphere in Carson was electric. 26,812 people packed into the stadium. The Galaxy started like they were shot out of a cannon. Paintsil scored early. Dejan Joveljić, who had a breakout postseason with six goals, doubled it in the 13th minute. It looked like a blowout.
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But the Red Bulls are nothing if not annoying to play against. Sean Nealis pulled one back in the 28th minute, and the rest of the game was a nervy, back-and-forth slog. John McCarthy—the Galaxy keeper who had already won a cup with LAFC—made four massive saves to preserve the lead.
The Galaxy finished the season 17-0-3 at home. They literally did not lose at Dignity Health Sports Park all year. That home-field advantage was the "secret sauce" of the play off mls 2024.
What We Learned About the League
This postseason changed the narrative. It proved that star power isn't a guarantee of silverware. LAFC, the other heavy hitters, fell to Seattle in the semifinals because they couldn't figure out how to integrate Olivier Giroud into their system effectively. Columbus Crew, the defending champs, got bounced by the Red Bulls in a penalty shootout.
The league is deeper than it's ever been.
The Galaxy’s win wasn't just about spending money; it was about balance. They had the young wingers like Gabriel Pec (Newcomer of the Year) and Paintsil, but they also had the grit of Maya Yoshida and the depth of guys like Brugman.
Key Stats from the 2024 Postseason
- Total Goals by Galaxy: 18 (All-time MLS record)
- Goal Differential: +14 (Most dominant postseason ever)
- Home Record: 17 wins at home (tied for most in a single season)
- Messi’s Impact: 21 regular season goals, but only one round of playoffs.
If you're looking to take a piece of this success into your own local club or even just your FIFA (or FC) tactics, focus on the wing-play. The Galaxy’s ability to stretch the field with Pec and Paintsil forced defenders into impossible positions.
The next step is to keep an eye on the 2025 roster builds. Most of the heavy hitters are sticking around, and with the 30th season of MLS approaching, the arms race is only getting started. If you want to dive deeper into the tactics, check out the full match replays on MLS Season Pass; specifically, watch how the Red Bulls' high press almost neutralized the Galaxy's midfield in the second half of the final. It's a masterclass in defensive recovery.