LA Galaxy 6-2 Minnesota United
Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic each scored two goals Sunday to help the LA Galaxy beat Minnesota United to advance to the Western Conference finals.
The Galaxy, the No 2 seed in the Western Conference, will play host to the fourth-seeded Seattle Sounders for the conference title on Saturday.
LA set an MLS record with 15 goals in a span of three playoff games. The Galaxy swept their best-of-three first-round series against Colorado, beating the Rapids 5-0 and 4-1.
Joveljic gave the Galaxy the lead for good in the 18th. Marco Reus played a free kick into the area where Joveljic flicked a header inside the back post to make it 2-1. Miki Yamane played a cross from the right side that Joveljic redirected to Paintsil for a one-touch finish inside the back post to double the advantage in the 37th minute.
Kelvin Yeboah, who opened the scoring for Minnesota in the sixth, converted from the penalty spot in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time to make it 3-2 at half-time. The 24-year-old forward recorded just the third multi-goal playoff game in franchise history. Kevin Molino scored two goals each in back-to-back playoff games for Minnesota in 2020.
Riqui Puig played a through ball to Pec, who slipped behind the defense, won the ball from defender Jefferson Diaz and beat goalkeeper Dayne St Clair with a rolling shot inside the back post to give LA a 1-0 lead just 30 seconds into the game. It was the fastest playoff goal in franchise history and the second fastest ever in the playoffs (Portland’s Diego Valeri scored in 27 seconds against the Columbus Crew in 2015).
Pec evaded a would-be tackle near midfield and outraced a trio of defenders to the right side of the area, where he played a slow-roller inside the back post to give LA a 4-2 in the 50th minute.
Diaz was shown a yellow card in the 68th minute and the Galaxy played a man down after he was shown another in the 83rd.
Paintsil and Joveljic added goals in the 86th and 89th minutes, respectively, to cap the scoring.
LA had 69.8% possession, although each team had 15 shots.
St Clair stopped three shots for Minnesota, including a diving save of penalty kick by Pec in the 78th minute.
Orlando City 1-0 Atlanta United
Ramiro Enrique scored a first-half goal and that was all they would need as Orlando City recorded a 1-0 victory over Atlanta United in their Eastern Conference semi-final.
No 4 seed Orlando City, in their first trip to the conference final, will host the seventh-seeded New York Red Bulls next weekend with. The Red Bulls have made the playoffs in 14 straight seasons but have never won the Cup.
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Orlando City grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute by Ramiro Enrique, who scored off a corner kick that struck the chest of teammate César Araújo near the goal. It was the first goal contribution for Enrique in seven playoff appearances. He scored eight times in the regular season.
Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese did not have to make a save in his 10th career postseason start – all with Orlando City. Three of his five shutouts in the playoffs have come in the past two seasons. He had eight clean sheets during the regular season. Brad Guzan made three saves for Atlanta United. He has started 18 times in the postseason for Atlanta United following four starts for Chivas USA in 2006-07.
Atlanta United lost Daniel Ríos to concussion protocol four minutes into the second half and Ronald Hernández replaced him.
Atlanta United have had the upper hand in the series during the regular season, posting an 11-4-7 record. Atlanta United won both matchups this regular season – 2-1 on the road and 2-0 at home. The two clubs had never met in the postseason.