LA Galaxy aim for return to MLS glory days in Conference final

MIAMI: The free-scoring Los Angeles Galaxy are chasing a record-extending sixth MLS Cup title as they head into Saturday´s Western Conference final with the Seattle Sounders.

The winner of their clash at the Galaxy´s Dignity Health Park will play Orlando City or the New York Red Bulls, who meet in the Eastern Conference final. It is a decade since the Galaxy won a record fifth MLS title when a team featuring Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane beat the New England Revolution in 2014.

That side dominated MLS, winning three titles in four years, the first two coming with former England and Manchester United star David Beckham in their midfield. Those days of glory under coach Bruce Arena appeared very distant last season when the Galaxy finished next to bottom of the Western Conference with protesting fans losing patience with the club´s owners and coaching staff.

But coach Greg Vanney, who had insisted last season that the squad was in transition, has been proven right as the Galaxy have evolved into one of the most exciting, attacking teams in the league.

The Californian club finished second to cross-city rivals Los Angeles FC in the Western Conference but they have hit their best form in the post-season. The Galaxy have scored 15 goals in three games.

They hammered the Colorado Rapids 5-0 and 4-1 in their best-of-three first-round series before last week´s 6-2 mauling of Minnesota United in the Conference semi. That game was the Galaxy at their very best, with classy Spanish playmaker Riqui Puig creating and wingers Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil, and striker Dejan Joveljic, all scoring twice. The pace out wide combined with Serbian Joveljic´s effective target-man presence were too much for Minnesota and Vanney wants to see the same attacking intent against the Sounders.

“The way we play is to be aggressive and to be bold and to take risks and to go for it,” said the coach. “We´re not a hang out, sit back, be conservative team. That´s not the way we do it. We go and we live with the consequences at the end of the day. We react when situations don´t go well and we go for it when we do,” he added.

The Sounders, two-times champions who eliminated LAFC in their semi, will provide more resistance than Minnesota with their rock-solid defence and ability to kill opponents´ rhythm in midfield.