L.A. wins a record sixth Major League Soccer championship.
By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS
RAFU SPORTS EDITOR
CARSON.–Following a 2-1 upset loss in stoppage time at Houston in October, Galaxy captain Maya Yoshida was livid.
“That defeat gave me some extra energy,” Yoshida said last Saturday. “I promised we would never let that happen again.”
Consider his vow fulfilled, as L.A. kept its home unbeaten record intact with a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls to capture the MLS Cup at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson.
The championship is a league-best sixth for the Galaxy, who were making their record 10th appearance in the MLS Cup.
“When we began the season, we realized how important it would be to really play and think together as a team,” said defender Miki Yamane, who signed with the Galaxy last offseason. “I think we did that well all season, so this is the success we have to show for it.
The Galaxy wasted little time getting on the scoreboard Saturday, netting two goals within 13 minutes in front of a sellout crowd of 26,812 that included a few pockets of New York supporters.
Foward Joseph Paintsil broke free of the Red Bulls’ defense on a counterattack in the eighth minute, collecting a precise pass from mid-fielder Gastón Brugman and rolling the ball past goalkeeper Carlos Coronel.
Paintsil immediately ran to the Galaxy bench to grab the jersey of star teammate Riqui Puig and raise it to the delight of the home fans.
Puig was forced to sit out the title match after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the Western Conference Final a week earlier.
In the 13th minute, Dejan Joveljic left-footed a relay from Mark Delgado into the next for a 2-0 lead that the Galaxy would not relinquish.
The Red Bulls got onto the board in the 28th minute. After Yoshida headed away Emil Forsberg’s corner kick, the Galaxy failed to clear the ball, allowing defender Sean Nealis to fire a shot from the penalty spot inside the right goalpost.
For the rest of the match, the L.A. defense offered few scoring oportunities for the remainder.
Brugman was named Most Valu-able Player of the match.
After receiving the champion-ship trophy from MLS Commissioner Don Garber, Yoshida playfully danced his way onto the stage set up for the ceremony, where his team-mates eagerly waited.
After a brief countdown, he raised the cup to cheers, fireworks and huge clouds of flying confetti.
In the postgame press conference, Yoshida said he was happy to keep his word.
“It wasn’t the best game for me individually today,” he said. “But it doesn’t matter, because nobody will remember exactly how we played, they’ll remember who won.”
Yamane is among 19 Galaxy players under contract for the 2025 season, while the team is in ongoing discussions about Yoshida’s return for next season.
Galaxy team captain Maya Yoshida (center) hoists the MLS Cup after L.A. topped the New York Red Bulls on Saturday to win their sixth title. 
Amid the cheers and flying champagne, defender Miki Yamane dances with the trophy in the Galaxy clubhouse. 
Yoshida’s clutch header late in the second half thwarted what turned out to be New York’s best chance at an equalizer. At right, Miki Yamane battles for a header in the first half.