Galaxy tie True Salt Lake, clinching an MLS playoff spot and satisfying household crowd

The Galaxy held their once-a-year lover appreciation evening Saturday, worthwhile a sellout crowd announced at 26,674 by giving absent autographed soccer balls, live performance tickets and LED brackets.

What the enthusiasts at Dignity Health Sporting activities Park actually desired, having said that, was a playoff berth, and they got that far too with the Galaxy rallying for a 1-1 attract against Real Salt Lake, providing them the point they required to clinch their next postseason berth in six seasons.

The final result also lifts the Galaxy (13-12-8) to fourth put in the Western Conference standings, forward of Nashville on a tiebreaker, with one sport to perform. If the Galaxy keep in the prime 4, they will host a playoff game for the 1st time considering that 2016.

The Actual Salt Lake purpose came on a very first-fifty percent header from Sergio Córdova, though Douglas Costa bought the Galaxy’s rating on a penalty kick in the 68th moment.

Precedent was not on the Galaxy’s aspect coming in.

In the final ten years, the Galaxy have received just as soon as on fan appreciation working day. Final period, needing a get on the closing working day of the standard time, they could control only a draw and missed the postseason on a tiebreaker. 3 many years just before that, they blew a 2- halftime lead and shed, finishing a level out of the playoffs.

The workforce that went in the Galaxy’s put both periods? Authentic Salt Lake.

The Galaxy were being in command of their very own future all over again, but background would not repeat this time — while it was near there for a even though with Córdova’s uncomfortable header in the 26th minute supplying RSL a direct it would secure for additional than 40 minutes.

The reality the Galaxy were being even in the playoff conversation with two online games to go can be credited to a late-period surge that has noticed the Galaxy drop just when in their past 10 online games. Credit history for that goes to midfielders Gastón Brugman and Riqui Puig, who ended up obtained from European groups — Brugman from Parma, Puig from Barcelona — through the summer transfer window.

The additions also rejuvenated ahead Javier “Chicharito” Hernández. The Galaxy captain has scored seven of his group-high 17 goals in the 9 online games in which Brugman and Puig have both of those appeared, triggering a $6-million deal choice that will retain him with the workforce as a result of upcoming year.

Brugman, Puig and Hernández did not just help save the period, however. They may well have saved the Galaxy’s front business as well.

On the day Puig made his debut, the staff had a getting rid of history, experienced shed five of its last seven game titles and was fading from the playoff race. To sign up their displeasure, a team of Galaxy supporters compensated to have a banner flown above the stadium calling for the sacking of President Chris Klein and complex director Jovan Kirovski, who had been instrumental in recruiting and signing Brugman and Puig.

Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond helps make a preserve in the course of the next fifty percent.

(Ashley Landis / Linked Press)

Puig was the moment once more in all places at after Saturday, environment up Julian Araujo for a shot on goal that RSL keeper Zac MacMath stopped with his suitable foot in the ninth minute, then heading down at the major of the box below a problem from midfielder Scott Caldwell six minutes later on to draw a penalty. But MacMath guessed appropriately on that shot much too, diving to his remaining and batting Puig’s try out from the spot down with both of those arms.

Córdova scored for RSL (11-11-11) soon afterward, leaning again to head in a cross from Aaron Herrera, a intention the Galaxy at some point matched on Costa’s penalty kick. Puig was concerned in setting that up as well, threading a fantastic go by means of three defenders to Hernández, sprinting into the box. RSL’s Marcelo Silva, beaten on the enjoy, tripped Hernández from powering, but referee Kevin Stott at first waved off the penalty.

Hernández correctly stayed down, although, halting play even though he was attended by the trainers. That gave Stott time to look at a movie replay and award the penalty, the 14th the Galaxy have gained this time, most in MLS.