On the face of it, Minnesota United hasn’t been all that successful against the LA Galaxy, their MLS conference semifinal opponent, this season. The Loons drew with Galaxy at home , lost to a late goal on the road and so ended up with only one point in two games. The two teams have two weeks to go until they meet in Carson, Calif.
, for a winner-take-all playoff game Nov. 23 or 24. But Loons coach Eric Ramsay isn’t headed back to the drawing board .
“I feel like we’re a good matchup for them,” he said. “I don’t think it will be quite the David vs. Goliath match up that everyone will paint it as.
” Despite the results, and despite giving up two goals in both games to the Western Conference’s top-scoring team, there was a lot to like about Minnesota’s performances. The Galaxy’s offensive strategy is reasonably straightforward. LA likes to play with three forwards, with Dejan Jovelić (15 goals) in the middle and Gabriel Pec (16) and Joseph Paintsil (10) on either side.
Their offensive star, though, is central midfielder Riqui Puig, who orchestrates the whole attack. Los Angeles is never happier than when Puig is on the ball in the center of the field, and the three forwards can turn and run, almost like football wide receivers looking to catch passes from a quarterback. The Galaxy and Puig led MLS in passes and dribbling the ball forward this season; no player in the league is more heavily responsible for his team’s offensive success.
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