May the force be with us; it’s time to take on the Galaxy. With nothing more than playoff seeding left to play for, your Loons are heading into this match in search of form—the key to league-wide domination. This final tune-up offers a valuable opportunity to test themselves away from home one last time, and though the Galaxy haven’t necessarily had the best season in their storied history, they’ve still got a group that’s capable of sucker punching the Loons right before the postseason if they aren’t careful.
Minnesota United (16-7-10)
Run of Form: W-D-L-L-W (All Competitions)
Once again, your Loons have recovered nicely from their most recent hiccup in form, earning a tough road point in Colorado and dominating SKC at Allianz Field. Resilience continues to be the watch word here, and after switching up their formation to get some extra legs in the attack, they’ve looked increasingly dynamic. A comprehensive win and an impressive performance should be the expectations this weekend, with anything less feeling like a waste of time for a team with big aspirations and room in the trophy cabinet.
LA Galaxy (6-18-9)
Run of Form: W-L-L-W-L (All Competitions)
If ever there were a time to say that the Galaxy were in form this season, it might be now. They’ve got two wins in their last three league games, which is a third of the wins they’ve earned this season. Whew—that’s one heck of a trophy hangover, guys. Recently, Gregg Vanney has been letting the youngsters play, though that’s due in part to international absences, part to the fact that they’ve been eliminated from postseason contention for a while now. It’s hard to imagine what the Galaxy players could be playing for aside from pride, but when motivated, they’re still capable of pulling something out, as evidenced by their recent results.
Keys to the Match:
Mindset is Everything
Think about the mindset of a Loons’ player heading into this one: You’re already guaranteed to host two games in round one of the playoffs. You can’t finish first in the conference anymore, you can’t finish any lower than you already are, and though a win could change your path to the MLS Cup Final, there really isn’t a whole lot of anything riding on this weekend’s match. Plus, the Galaxy have lost more games than you’ve won, they’re dead last in the conference, and their best player is still out. If you ask me, that’s not the easiest game in the world to get yourself excited for. For Coach Ramsay and the squad, the best way to approach Decision Day is as though it’s the beginning of the playoffs. At this time of year, the only thing that really matters in this league is form; if you were good enough to make the postseason and you’re playing your best soccer in October, you’ve got a real shot at winning the title. If the Loons come into this match thinking about all the reasons I listed before, they’ll be at risk of falling flat, denting their momentum, and hitting an unfortunate domino that ends in their early exit from the playoffs. If they lock in—as they’ve seemingly done all season—they can hand the defending champs one last resounding L in 2025 on their way to what could be a deep run.
Unlikely Scorer? Not Anymore.
Anthony Markanich is the defender that keeps on scoring. Was that a stretch to modify “the gift that keeps on giving”? Sure it was, but that doesn’t make it any less true. He’s the fourth defender in MLS history to score at least eight goals in regular-season play, the first to do it since 2014. He leads all MLS defenders with 12 goals across all competitions. He’s always in the right place at the right time, he’s got a knack for perfectly placed headers, and he’s got a fresh new contract to go with all of that success. Where most teams would be stressing out over their lack of out-and-out attacking options, this Loons side plays in such a way that creativity counts all over the pitch. Coach Ramsay can focus on putting together the team that plays the best soccer overall, rather than trying to replace all the goals with his selections up top. Markanich has taken to the set-piece strategy of this team like a fish to water, and his energy, positioning, and nose for goal are going to be crucial this weekend—and beyond.
Pair of Proficient P’s
Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil are still every bit as talented as they were last season when the Galaxy knocked the Loons out of the playoffs. While the stakes in this match aren’t nearly as high, these pacey forwards present the same threat they always have. If they score early, they’ll play with the confidence that led to a long night at Dignity Health Sports Park last season, and though it will be their season that ends at the final whistle this time, no one wants to relive that match. To nullify Paintsil and Pec’s influence in this one, the Loons could opt for a compact back four, with Markanich staying back unless a set-piece opportunity invites him to step forward. Numbers in the defensive third will be the Black and Blue’s best option to slow these guys down early on, and if successful in holding them to a slow start, they can begin to exert more and more pressure going forward. Managing the flow of Saturday’s game is going to be crucial to the final result, and whether LA’s talented forwards line up out wide or through the middle, they’ll hold the key to the opening stages of this one.
