CARSON, Calif. – The Los Angeles Galaxy prevailed here Saturday, overtaking the New York Red Bulls and securing their sixth MLS Cup title. By winning the trophy they once owned, they capped a resurgent 2024 season.

The Galaxy took a 2-0 lead within 13 minutes and were then able to defend it 2-1. The goals were scored by Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic. Determined defenders maintained the lead. Injured star Riqui Puig looked on and then rode across the field on the back of his brilliant substitute Gastón Brugman as deafening cheers erupted.

And they did it all at their longtime stronghold, Dignity Health Sports Park, where they didn’t lose all season. It rocked and towels blew as the Galaxy climbed back to the top of Major League Soccer.

They spent the better part of two decades there, from the league’s founding in 1996 until the mid-2010s. They reached nine of the first 19 MLS Cup Finals. They’ve won five and built a trophy case unmatched by any other MLS club.

But as these other clubs modernized, the Galaxy fell behind. As the league evolved, they failed to evolve with it. For almost a decade they didn’t make it past the MLS quarterfinals; They missed the playoffs five times in seven years. They didn’t lift any trophy.

They also violated roster rules. Their transfer business felt unscientific and chaotic. By 2023, their most loyal fans had had enough. Prominent fan groups began boycotting games and helped force the club president out of office. Discontent spread through the team and, coupled with injuries, led to the worst finish in LA Galaxy history: 13th in the conference, 26th in the league.

However, in 2024 there was an immediate turnaround. Head coach Greg Vanney steadied the proverbial ship and stuck to a long-term vision. New general manager Will Kuntz brought in Paintsil and Gabriel Pec as well as a number of role players who led the Galaxy to second place in the Western Conference.

They then marched through the playoffs, scoring goals seemingly at will. And on Saturday they just kept marching from kick-off. Paintsil sent a sold-out crowd of 26,812 into ecstasy within nine minutes.

In those opening conversations, the Galaxy’s midfield replacements for Puig and Marco Reus also answered all sorts of questions about how they would fare without two bona fide stars. In the lead-up to Paintsil’s goal, Brugman and Edwin Cerrillo made it a great one-two. Then Brugman pushed a perfectly weighted through ball to Paintsil – into a gap created just before kick-off when rock-solid Red Bulls centre-back Andrés Reyes suffered a scratch and was substituted due to illness.

Four minutes after Painstil had exploited this space, Joveljic attacked again. He doubled the lead with a clever finish and the SoCal party, which began with a pre-kickoff performance by Warren G, really started to get going. The Serbia striker mimicked Galaxy star Robbie Keane’s iconic celebration and then bowed to the electrifying crowd. Both he and Paintsil held up Puig’s jersey – while the injured Spanish playmaker, wearing a suit jacket alongside his family just behind the Galaxy bench, clenched his fists and beamed.

However, the celebration proved premature.

For 25 minutes, as Vanney said at halftime, “we dominated the game in every way.” Then, in the 28th minute, out of nowhere, New York defender Sean Nealis halved the lead – and “we fell a little bit from one.” Cliff,” Vanney lamented. “I just became a bit passive” and “gave up too much territory.” The Red Bulls threatened from set pieces. They were down 2-1 at half-time but were back in the game.

After halftime, however, the Galaxys found their rhythm again.

And now they can settle back on their MLS throne.

The league’s trophy, officially the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy, is literally named after its owner, an MLS original. Now it’s once again the galaxy’s turn to lift it.