MLS Cup Final: How LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls Became One Step Away From Glory | OneFootball

The two MLS original clubs set to face off in the 2024 MLS Cup final might be on the cusp of glory, but LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls have already made history in their postseason runs.

At this time last year, both LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls could only watch the 2023 MLS Cup final. The Eastern Conference side was eliminated by FC Cincinnati in Round One of the MLS Cup playoffs, and LA Galaxy did not even make the postseason. In fact, the five-time MLS Cup winners ended their campaign with a 13th place finish in the Western Conference standings and a supporters' protest.

Fast forward one year later and the two clubs each stand one win away from lifting the most coveted trophy in Major League Soccer. Although LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls punched their ticket to the 2024 MLS Cup final with 1–0 victories in their respective conference finals, they come into the match with radically different identities.

LA Galaxy Stares Down History

LA Galaxy ended the regular season level in points with LAFC atop the Western Conference. Greg Vanney's men recorded a 19W-8L-7D record, scoring a conference-high 69 goals in 34 matches. The Galaxy's prolific attack did anything but slow down in the postseason. The team outscored its opponents 16–3 in the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs.

The No. 2 seed scored nine goals across its first two matches against Colorado Rapids in Round One of the MLS Cup playoffs. Riqui Puig alone found the back of the net four times in the best-of-three series that only needed two games to decide a winner.

Next up came Minnesota United in the Western Conference semifinals. LA Galaxy bagged a staggering six goals in 90 minutes and cruised their way to the Western Conference final. Dejan Joveljić came into the Galaxy's next match against Seattle Sounders with four postseason goals to his name and added another to his tally to send his team to their first MLS Cup final in a decade.

The Galaxy's 16 postseason goals combined with their 69 regular season goals give Vanney's side the third-most goals ever scored in a single MLS season. The team only needs to find the back of the net one more time to tie Toronto FC's 2016 record of 17 goals in a single postseason run.

All signs point to LA Galaxy making MLS history come Dec. 7. Although they will be without Puig, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the Western Conference final, the Galaxy still have the better team and home field advantage. In fact, Vanney's side is currently on a 20-game unbeaten streak at Dignity Health Sports Park.

If they keep the streak alive, LA Galaxy will win their record-sixth MLS Cup.

New York Red Bulls Are Writing Their Own History

New York Red Bulls might not have the same aura as the most successful MLS club of all time, but they are fully embracing their gritty, underdog mentality. It goes without saying that almost no one predicted the No. 7 seed to make the MLS Cup final, especially with Eastern Conference teams like Inter Miami and Columbus Crew dominating the regular season.

To put things into perspective, Red Bulls only recorded 11 wins in the regular season. Sandro Schwarz's squad ended its 2024 campaign with just one win in its last nine matches.

Yet, Red Bulls eliminated the defending MLS Cup champions in Round One of the MLS Cup playoffs without even playing a third game. The two goals scored by Columbus Crew in Game 2 of the best-of-three series are the only goals conceded by Carlos Coronel in the postseason so far.

Red Bulls went on to defeat rivals NYCFC in the Eastern Conference semifinals thanks to first half goals from Felipe Carballo and Dante Vanzeir. Schwartz's men only needed to find the back of the net once in the Eastern Conference final to knock off Orlando City at Inter&Co Stadium.

In his first season in charge, Schwarz led Red Bulls to just their second MLS Cup appearance in history. The team is also the lowest-ever seed to reach the MLS Cup final.

If they can pull off one more upset, Red Bulls will lift the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy for the first time in the club's history.

One thing is for certain: History will be made at Dignity Health Sports Park on Dec. 7 that will end with either LA Galaxy or New York Red Bulls reaching the pinnacle of Major League Soccer.