MLS

LAFC pip Galaxy to top seed, D.C. United miss MLS Cup Playoffs on Decision Day

By Sports Desk October 20, 2024

Los Angeles FC beat their cross-city rivals, the LA Galaxy, to top spot in the Western Conference on the final day of the MLS regular season, while D.C. United were pipped to a playoff place by Atlanta United.

The Galaxy simply needed to avoid defeat to take the West's number one seed, with LAFC coming from behind to beat the San Jose Earthquakes 3-1.

Having gone behind to an Ezequiel Ponce strike away at the Houston Dynamo, the Galaxy drew level six minutes into second-half stoppage time as MLS Newcomer of the Year favourite Gabriel Pec converted from the penalty spot.

However, former Galaxy defender Daniel Steres headed into the top-left corner 11 minutes into stoppage time to hand LAFC their third conference title, and their second in three seasons.

Elsewhere, there was heartbreak for Troy Lesesne's D.C. side as a 3-0 defeat at home to Charlotte FC saw them slip out of the wild-card places in the Eastern Conference.

That result opened the door to Atlanta, who upset Orlando City with a 2-1 road win to move ahead of D.C. on goal difference and join Montreal in the wild-card round.

Josef Martinez joined Caden Clark on the scoresheet as Montreal beat already-qualified New York City 2-0 at Stade Saputo to finish eighth.

Those results meant the Philadelphia Union missed the postseason for the first time since 2017, as they squandered a 1-0 lead in a 2-1 home loss to FC Cincinnati to finish 12th. 

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    The Eagles impressed at St Helen's Stadium as former Reds striker Katie Stengel opened the scoring after 14 minutes, prodding home from close range.

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    "The performance was excellent. I thought the lads gave absolutely everything. We kept finding the answers, and we conceded a controversial goal late on. The things that could go against us today definitely did, but we have to take positives.

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