LA Galaxy fans pulling for 'Win-nesota' United FC this weekend

The Los Angeles Galaxy could already be moving on to the next round of the postseason if they win on Friday night. If they were to win the opening first round series against the Colorado Rapids, they would play the winner of the series between the third and sixth seed.

Regardless, the Western Conference Semifinals are a single elimination game and would be held in Carson, California should the five-time MLS Champions advance past the Rapids.

Real Salt Lake finished third in the West and drew a Minnesota United FC team in their best-of-three series. The lower seed took Game 1 thanks to penalty kicks (5-4).

Game 2 of that series is this Saturday. Should both the Galaxy and Minnesota win this weekend, they will face off at Dignity Health Sports Park in the next round of the postseason.

Why the Galaxy may want Minnesota United FC over Real Salt Lake?

For starters, Real Salt Lake finished the regular season just five points behind the Los Angeles Galaxy. Minnesota United FC had 12 less points in the Western Conference standings after Match Day #34.

One might argue that the LA Galaxy also fared better in the pair of games against the sixth seed than they did against the third. Despite a win and a tie against both soccer clubs, the Galaxy scored four goals this year against Minnesota as opposed to three against Real Salt Lake.

Of these four games, Gabriel Pec scored in three of them. He did not record a goal in the May 15 draw, 2-2, on the road against Minnesota.

However, he did score both goals at home on July 7 when the two teams rematched. If it weren't for teammate Miguel Berry's goal in stoppage time against RSL at home, they would have lost that contest, 2-1.

Pec was also the only one to find the back of the net in the June 22nd game on the road against Real Salt Lake. The wins against RSL and Minnesota were part of a stetch this summer that saw the LA Galaxy win five games in a seven game stretch.

Their only losses during this span were against LAFC on July 4 and a road loss at Chicago against the Fire. The Galaxy have also yet to lose back-to-back games all season this year.

Since the regular season games against both RSL and Minnesota, the LA Galaxy have added Marco Reus to the roster. He is a veteran soccer player who has added another weapon to Head Coach Greg Vanney's offensive arsenal.

Dejan Joveljic has also come back strong after his leg injury he sustained against Minnesota on July 7. Not only did Joveljic find the net for one of the Galaxy's two goals in the May 15 game on the road, but the Serbian forward did also so twice in Game 1 this postseason against the Colorado Rapids.

If Minnesota were to be victorious once more against Real Salt Lake this Saturday, or in Game 3 if necessary, they could be the LA Galaxy's next playoff opponent should they advance, as well. This matchup is perhaps more favorable in the Galaxy's quest for a sixth MLS Cup and tenth Finals appearance in franchise history.