The MLS playoffs are nothing if not entertaining. Whether it was upsets (we got two more of them in this past weekend’s conference semifinal round!), generational goalkeeping, or an LA Galaxy attacking performance reminiscent of 2014 Germany vs. Brazil, spectacles abound. Can anyone stop this Riqui Puig-led juggernaut?
Let’s dig into the latest playoff action, moving through teams in order of playoff seeding.
LAFC
Result: 2-1 loss vs. Seattle Sounders
Olivier Giroud’s struggles to have any consistent impact in MLS puzzles me for two reasons.
First, this is a guy who was playing for France (a top five national team) at the Euros this summer and scored 15 goals in Serie A for a fantastic AC Milan team last season. He didn’t become inept all of a sudden.
Second, I’m really puzzled by Steve Cherundolo’s refusal to change his game model to accommodate one of the bigger signings of the summer window. I was sure they’d pivot away from the painfully pragmatic, trade-possession-for-field-position-and-open-space model he had adopted and switch to something more possession-centric, one that made better use of midfielders like Timmy Tillman, Eduard Atuesta and Ilie, and best suited Giroud’s legitimately world-class holdup and linking skills.
Instead, we got, uh… 26 touches, four touches in the attacking penalty area and an off-target set piece header in 70 minutes against Seattle. It was an underwhelming finish to an underwhelming (and goalless, outside of cup competitions) debut campaign in MLS.
I know there’s an overarching narrative about LAFC’s struggles in knockout games. But I don’t know how much I believe that struggling against the best defensive side in MLS and losing in extra time is a burn-it-all-down indictment of one of the model clubs in the league.
However, like Inter Miami, it feels like LAFC left an awful lot on the table this season. They’ve been really good, and also never truly lived up to their potential. The fact that their cross-town rivals have adopted a possession-style, all-out approach similar to what Bob Bradley instilled when he built the team initially has to sting a little. Maybe it’s time to go back to that side of the equilibrium?
LA Galaxy
Result: 6-2 vs. Minnesota United
Jon Arnold
Oh, so the Galaxy are GOOD good. Good enough that in an alternate timeline where Colubmus and Miami were still alive in the East, I’d say the Galaxy were still favorites to win it all. They dismantled Minnesota on Sunday, showed off their multifaceted attack, and looked like they were having so much fun doing it.
