Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic each scored twice — with one goal in each half — and the LA Galaxy earned a 6-2 victory over visiting Minnesota United FC in Sunday’s Western Conference semifinal in Carson, California.
Paintsil also had an assist for the second-seeded Galaxy, who will host fourth-seed Seattle Sounders FC next Saturday in their first Western Conference final appearance since winning a record fifth MLS Cup in 2014.
Manager Greg Vanney’s squad is the highest remaining seed, meaning it will also host the MLS Cup final should it advance past the Sounders.
Midfielders Riqui Puig and Marco Reus each had first-half assists for LA, which has outscored opponents 15-3 over three postseason matches.
Kelvin Yeboah scored a first-half brace for sixth-seeded Minnesota, which lost for the first time in eight matches in all competitions.
Dayne St. Clair also saved a penalty kick to deny Pec — the newly minted 2024 MLS Newcomer of the Year — a hat trick. But any late hopes for a Loons comeback ended with Jefferson Díaz‘s dismissal for a second yellow card in the 82nd minute, which preceded the second goals for Paintsil and Joveljic.
Even so, the Galaxy were also dominant 11-on-11 also, and from the very opening seconds when Pec’s opener gave the hosts an almost instant lead.
Puig played an exceptional outlet ball down the right to pick out the Brazilian on the run.
Pec still had a lot to do, eluding the pressure of the retreating Diaz before driving his finish past the charging St. Clair from close range.
Yeboah’s first tied the game at 1-1 five minutes later, before Joveljic’s header of Reus’ free kick service put the Galaxy up again in the 18th minute.
Paintsil added to the lead before Yeboah converted a second from the penalty spot to make it 3-2 at halftime.
But it was Pec’s sensational second that put things out of reach early in the second half.
After receiving an outlet pass from Puig in his own half, Pec used his exceptional pace and ball control to beat three Minnesota defenders down the right flank before dispatching a low finish past St. Clair and inside the far left post.
Orlando beat Atlanta United in the day’s other game — the Eastern Conference semifinal — and will play the New York Red Bulls for a spot in MLS Cup.
