Soccer <\/p>\n
CARSON, Calif. \u2013 In a league often defined by what\u2019s new, the final chapter of the 2024 season comes down to two original clubs.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
LA Galaxy<\/a> host New York Red Bulls<\/a> on Saturday afternoon for MLS Cup 2024 presented by Audi, a meeting that\u2019s never occurred at this stage (4 pm ET | Apple TV – Free<\/a>; FOX, FOX Deportes; TSN, RDS).<\/p>\n But 29 years after the inaugural 1996 campaign, LA and New York clash for the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy, capping a months-long sprint that began when teams reported for preseason camp in January.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo original clubs being able to put themselves in this situation, it’s great,\u201d said Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney.<\/p>\n \u201cNow you have 29 and next year 30 teams who all have their strategy and vision of how they want to create their roster, how they want to define their style of play, figuring out how to get to this moment. To see two clubs that have been at it as long as this league has been around to be here, I think it’s a special moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n For LA, there\u2019s little surprise they\u2019ve reached the biggest stage the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs has to offer.<\/p>\n Vanney\u2019s years-long vision has paid off, marrying his possession-centric system with high-end talent. The league\u2019s most-accomplished team is now in a record 10th MLS Cup, chasing a record sixth title.<\/p>\n They face a hugely consequential wrinkle for this match, though. Star playmaker Riqui Puig<\/a> tore his ACL in LA\u2019s Western Conference Final win last weekend, taking the heartbeat out of their attack<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n As such, does Vanney slot Diego Fag\u00fandez<\/a> or Mark Delgado<\/a> into the midfield alongside Edwin Cerrillo<\/a>? Will LA alter their approach, further leaning into speedy wingers Joseph Paintsil<\/a> and Gabriel Pec<\/a>? What about striker Dejan Jovelji\u0107\u2019<\/a>s influence?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The impact of losing their metronome-like No. 10 can\u2019t be understated.<\/p>\n \u201cRiqui is a fantastic player, and we wish he was still with us now,\u201d Paintsil said of his Best XI<\/a> teammate. \u201cBut unfortunately, that\u2019s football. Injuries always happen. He sacrificed the most for us, especially while being injured and playing and giving that great assist. It\u2019s such a great moment.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really sad for him because this is something that really means a lot to him. For us as players, we are not just doing this for ourselves. We are also doing this for him.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Ready for the spotlight. ????@LAGalaxy<\/a> \/\/ #MLSCup<\/a> pres. by Audi pic.twitter.com\/x678S7b7z5<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 6, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Even without Puig, they\u2019re still largely viewed as the favorite.<\/p>\n The Galaxy are the Western Conference\u2019s No. 2 seed, having outscored teams 16-3 during the playoffs. They\u2019re one goal away from tying Toronto FC<\/a>\u2019s 2016 squad \u2013 which was ironically coached by Vanney \u2013 for the league\u2019s highest-scoring postseason stretch. And they\u2019re undefeated at Dignity Health Sports Park this season (16W-0L-4D).<\/p>\n But it\u2019s been a decade since LA have gone the distance, not winning the league\u2019s biggest game since 2014, when Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane were among their stars.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have been waiting for 10 years to have this opportunity,\u201d center back Maya Yoshida<\/a> said of the Galaxy\u2019s trophy drought.<\/p>\n \u201cLet’s make our fans proud. It’s too long. It’s time to make history. Especially at home, we have done very well so far. But there’s one more to win.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Four wins and 16 goals later… ????@LAGalaxy<\/a> will play for their sixth #MLSCup<\/a> on Saturday (4pm ET, free on Apple TV & also on FOX). pic.twitter.com\/zNqIpxZKkb<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 5, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Conversely, New York slot into the underdog role.<\/p>\n They\u2019re the Eastern Conference No. 7 seed and have defied expectations to reach their second-ever MLS Cup, beating three higher seeds along the way. They\u2019re making the club\u2019s first MLS Cup trip since 2008, when they lost the title match against the Columbus Crew<\/a>. And they\u2019re the lowest-ever seed to reach any MLS Cup in the league\u2019s nearly three-decade existence.<\/p>\n Just don\u2019t tell Red Bulls head coach Sandro Schwarz how this run is perceived.<\/p>\n \u201cI have never said this, that we are playing like an underdog or we went into the first round against Columbus like an underdog,\u201d Schwarz said, eager to address the topic. \u201cI think it starts more with Bradley Wright-Phillips, my friend, when he wrote the first story about the first game when we played against Columbus. He said Columbus is the favorite and we are the underdog. I love that he’s saying that. We joked about that.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I have never said this and I don’t know how you can rate as the underdog when it’s kickoff. You have to play, you have to find your solutions in the buildup, you have to find your solutions in transition. I can’t go in a pre-match meeting and talk to my guys, to our players, like now we are playing as underdogs. It’s not possible. We are going in our pre-match meeting and then we are talking of what we have to do and also how we have to defend in some moments against LA Galaxy, how we attack.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 5, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Schwarz\u2019s sentiment aside, the Red Bulls have found a postseason rallying cry in captain Emil Forsberg\u2019<\/a>s \u201cWhy can\u2019t we\u201d message. The No. 10 and marquee winter signing has proven transformative since returning from an injury in late September.<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve seen that quote everywhere: why can’t we,\u201d said Red Bulls defender John Tolkin<\/a>. \u201cAnd he’s right. Why can’t we?<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re the lowest seed to make the final, and everybody keeps doubting us, and we’ve won three on the road now in the playoffs. It’s not an easy thing to do. We are on the road again now. Why can’t we?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Almost showtime. ????@NewYorkRedBulls<\/a> \/\/ #MLSCup<\/a> pres. by Audi pic.twitter.com\/0EZu9wWrwN<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 6, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Lewis Morgan<\/a>, RBNY\u2019s highest scorer during the regular season, has similarly found inspiration in the underdog approach.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s nice to feel like it’s Red Bull against the world,\u201d Morgan said. \u201cSo it’s something that we as players are really bought into, and we enjoy being the underdog because there’s nothing better than when no one expects anything of you. You can sort of surprise everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n As for the messenger himself, Forsberg keeps leaning into the phrase during New York\u2019s 15th-straight postseason trip.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it was important to send a message that anything is possible,\u201d said the Swedish star and Bundesliga veteran.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n But in games of this magnitude, narratives and talking points often fall by the wayside. Emotions win out, as does the chance to make history.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’ll be great to have tomorrow 2,500 or 3,000 supporters here in red,\u201d Schwarz said. \u201cTo feel this, for us, it’s amazing. \u2026 It’s the reason why we are here. It’s the reason why we want to win this game, to give everything back to all these guys outside who are supporting us.\u201d<\/p>\n It all comes down to who makes the heroic play, the one that brings glory.<\/p>\n \u201cThis team, this club it was 10 years ago that we won the last championship,\u201d said Galaxy midfielder Marco Reus<\/a>, who signed this summer after a storied career with Borussia Dortmund.<\/p>\n \u201cNow we have the chance again to win it. I\u2019m really, really confident that we are strong enough for this. Also, to be ready in our heads. But in the end, we have to show it on the pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nNo Puig<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
\n
Decade-long wait<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
\n
Underdog or not?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Rallying cry<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
\n
Time to shine<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n