LA Galaxy brightest this postseason after the first round

The opening round of the Audi 2024 Major League Soccer Cup Playoffs is now complete. While half of the teams' fate were decided prior to this weekend, the other found theirs after Saturday night.

Only one series went the distance in the Western Conference. Top seeded LAFC needed a Game 3 victory to defeat the Vancouver Whitecaps. Just like the Los Angeles Galaxy, the Seattle Sounders FC and Minnesota United FC swept their first-round opponents.

In the Eastern Conference, Inter Miami CF along with Columbus Crew and Charlotte FC were all eliminated in their respective Game 3's. The top three seeds in the East saw their seasons end earlier than expected. FC Cincinnati was the only team in the East to be swept.

What set the LA Galaxy apart from the other teams in the playoffs?

For starters, the Los Angeles Galaxy were the only team to score more than three goals in a game during the first round. Vancouver did win 5-0 against the Portland Timbers in the Wild Card round.

However, the LA Galaxy not only scored more than three goals twice, but they also outscored the Colorado Rapids 9-1 in the two-game sweep. Of those nine goals, LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig scored four of them. He also had an assist on another.

Puig is the leading scorer this postseason thus far. After playing in his first two playoff games in the 2022 MLS season, the 25-year-old had not recorded a goal and only logged one assist.

The LA Galaxy already captured the attention of soccer fans everywhere with their 5-0 thrashing of the Rapids in Game 1. They followed that up with a 4-1 clincher.

The other seven teams in the Western Conference playoffs failed to score more than three goals. The LA Galaxy managed to find the back of the net three times themselves in stoppage time alone.

After a 1-1 tie late in the first half of Game 2, LA Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil scored at the 45'+3' to give his team a 2-1 lead. Matching his production from Game 1, Puig scored twice at 90'+1', 90'+3' to put the game out of reach from the Rapids for good.

"It's do-or-die now. It's no more hoping someone else makes a play for you. Everyone has to make a play. If you're not committed to the group as a whole, some bad situations might come up."

- John McCarthy, LA Galaxy Goalkeeper

The Los Angeles Galaxy's offense was not the only thing dominant in Game 1. Their defense held Colorado to a single shot attempt in the whole game.

The same type of dominance on both sides of the ball will be needed against a hungry Minnesota team. Their confidence is high after pulling off the upset against Real Salt Lake in a two-game sweep of their own.

Puig and company are unbeaten in the 16 regular season games played in Carson, California this year. In addition, they are now 2-0 in the playoffs at home. The LA Galaxy will host Minnesota in their semifinal's matchup on Sunday, November 24 at Dignity Health Sports Park.