An eventful Decision Day in the Eastern Conference set a high bar for the other half of the league, as seven matches simultaneously unfolded across the West. Though Minnesota had already clinched a top four seed, the night’s result would determine the visitors at Allianz Field for the first match of the Round One Best-of-3 series. But despite an opportunity to move up in the table, a strong starting XI, and plenty of chances at goal, the boys weren’t able to pull one over out on the coast.
The LA Galaxy might sit at the bottom of the conference table, but their second half of the season was significantly better than their first. Minnesota hadn’t won in LA (well, Carson) since 2022. And now, at the tail end of their season, the Galaxy had nothing to lose.
Your Loons lined up in a 4-4-2, featuring Joaquín Pereyra and Robin Lod up front with Wil Trapp and Nectarios Triantis manning the double pivot. Defender Michael Boxall started the game on the bench, fresh off international duty with New Zealand.
With the threatening attacking trio of Joseph Paintsil, Matheus Nascimento, and Gabriel Pec on the other side of the pitch, the first stretch of the match was played primarily in Minnesota’s defensive third. Paintsil logged an early shot that went just wide, and Minnesota conceded early in the 12’ when a clever pass from Elijah Wynder found Nascimento in the center of the box. Nascimento slid the ball right into the lower left, and the Galaxy took the lead.
On the whole, it was a rough first half for the Black and Blue. Despite having the better chances and playing the favored low-possession style, the conversion just wasn’t happening. The best they can say is that Minnesota managed to keep the Galaxy from doubling their lead, despite Pec racking up a whopping seven corners and Galaxy posing a consistent attacking threat up the right wing.
Center back Morris Duggan went down half an hour into the match, making for a 41st-minute substitution of Boxall. The captain immediately delivered in a stressful 45th minute, when Nascimento tried for a brace and was stopped by Dayne St. Clair. Diego Fagúndez’s attempt to capitalize on St. Clair being out of the net was thwarted by a decisive clearance by Boxall. The whistle blew 1-0 in favor of the home side.
Shortly into the second half, Paintsil went solo on a run up the left, catching Minnesota in a high line. His first shot hit the far post, but the striker took advantage of St. Clair’s dive to tap the rebound right into the net. 2-0, Galaxy.
The hour mark presented a dangerous opportunity for the Loons in the form of a free kick by Pereyra, but a lack of action in the box turned up no results. Pec used his free kick just outside the box in the 63’ to shoot for the corner, but St. Clair swept up the ball and said no.
Things heated up on both sides in the last half hour. Ramsay swapped out his double pivot, putting Hassani Dotson and Owen Gene in for Triantis and Trapp. Some fancy footwork and a fantastic shot from Pereyra was saved by LA keeper Novak Mićović. And yellow cards were picked up for both teams, even one by Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney.
Dominik Fitz and Kelvin Yeboah took to the pitch for Lod and Díaz in the 78’, a good opportunity for Yeboah to get some minutes before the playoffs after missing several games due to injury. The final minutes of the match were a brighter spot for the Loons, with Pereyra getting the Black and Blue on the board in the fifth minute of stoppage time, curving his corner kick right into the net — a hard-won goal after several shots on target thwarted by Mićović. However, it was a bit too late in the game for the Loons to turn it around, even when a second yellow had LA playing a man down for the final moments.
It looks like the Loons will have to wait until 2026 to break the curse of losing on Galaxy’s home turf. It’s a disappointing end to the regular season for a team in search of solid form ahead of the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. The good news? None of this matters come next week. It’s time for the Loons to turn the page with a resounding postseason performance. Minnesota United is set to host fifth-seed Seattle in Game 1 of Round One’s Best-of-3 series, aiming to keep shutting down the Sounders after a historic regular-season series sweep.
