LA Galaxy Seizes Leagues Cup Lifeline to Salvage Nightmare Season
If any team desperately required the 2025 Leagues Cup, it was undoubtedly the LA Galaxy.
During one of their most challenging campaigns in franchise history, which concluded with merely three victories in 24 MLS regular-season contests, they discovered a purpose to compete for, despite sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference with 16 points from 24 fixtures.
While numerous previous MLS campaigns would have likely resulted in them playing meaningless matches following a disappointing beginning, they seized the opportunity that the Leagues Cup presented, and are now only two victories away from the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.
Requiring a victory by more than three goals against Liga MX's Santos Laguna on Thursday, the Galaxy found the net in the opening minute, en route to a commanding 4–0 triumph. The result elevated them to seven points across three encounters, following a previous victory over Club Tijuana and a penalty shootout defeat to Cruz Azul, positioning them third among 18 MLS clubs.
The top four participating MLS sides advanced to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals, and the Galaxy now prepare for a knockout encounter against Liga MX's CF Pachuca, with an opportunity for a semifinal berth and either a third-place fixture—with a Champions Cup position at stake—or a championship match.
"This competition represents an opportunity. We were playing at home and we had accomplished sufficient work in the opening two games to position ourselves where we could control our own fate," head coach Greg Vanney stated after the reigning MLS Cup champions advanced. "I believe as we've progressed through this tournament, it's demonstrated what we understood that we possessed some of this potential within our squad."
A Chance to Prove Their Quality
Despite the sluggish beginning to the campaign, there were multiple factors explaining why the Galaxy couldn't establish their rhythm.
Their top performer, Riqui Puig, has not featured in a single match after suffering an ACL tear during the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference Final, while other crucial players like Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec battled their own injury concerns.
Additionally, Christian Ramírez had failed to rise to the occasion in replacing departed striker Dejan Jovelic, and Marco Reus had struggled to find his best form. These elements combined to create an unsightly and catastrophic season opening.
However, circumstances began improving this summer, and the Leagues Cup provided an opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities when relatively fit—though still without Puig. Over their previous 11 fixtures, the Galaxy have posted a 5-2-4 record, netting 25 goals while allowing 15.
Furthermore, they've recaptured the form that led them to last season's perfect MLS Cup-winning campaign at home, claiming five victories in their most recent seven matches at Dignity Health Sports Park.
"We understood we possessed some of this potential within our squad, and it was simply about bringing it together and connecting our players," Vanney continued. "I believe it demonstrates we have a quality team and we're difficult to face. The outcomes emotionally are excellent for the group, because we endured such an emotional pounding at the season's start."
While this resurgence may not significantly close the Galaxy's current 14-point deficit to the final MLS Cup Playoff position, it has provided a much-needed break and encouraging period during an otherwise disappointing season.
However, before they can face Pachuca, they return to MLS competition for one fixture, against the Seattle Sounders, who led Phase One of the Leagues Cup, and could inflict additional harm to their struggling MLS campaign.