LA Galaxy vs LAFC: 2026 MLS Cup Western Conference semifinal
LA Galaxy faces LAFC in the Western Conference semifinals following the loss of playmaker Riqui Puig to a torn ACL. While LAFC maintains consistency under Steve Cherundolo, Greg Vanney seeks to leverage a high-scoring offense led by Gabriel Pec to secure a victory.
LAFC stability under Cherundolo
LAFC enters this Western Conference semifinal following a period of remarkable consistency under Steve Cherundolo. The club finished in the top four and reached the conference semifinals in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Cherundolo, who was 42 at the time of his hiring, oversaw three major trophies and multiple deep playoff runs. He became the first coach in league history to win the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup in his first season. This era saw the club win more regular-season and playoff games than any other MLS organization. He inherited a roster that had missed the MLS Playoffs for the first time in its four-year history in 2021. Even after the departure of Carlos Vela, the team maintained high standards through roster transitions. The squad integrated veterans like Ilie Sanchez, Ryan Hollingshead, Kellyn Acosta, and Maxime Crepeau to remain competitive. Cherundolo also surpassed the 100-victory threshold in all competitions during his tenure. In 2022, the team secured the Supporters’ Shield thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Denis Bouanga. This success followed the addition of European legends like Giorgio Chiellini and Gareth Bale.
Vanney’s offensive rebuild
Greg Vanney seeks to return the LA Galaxy to its championship legacy through significant investments in team infrastructure. The Galaxy offense produced 69 goals during the regular season, which was the highest in the West and the third highest in MLS. This success stems from the integration of designated players Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec. Pec earned the MLS Newcomer of the Year award after recording 16 goals and 14 assists during the regular season. He also contributed three goals and two assists in four playoff games. However, the squad faces a massive void in the midfield because Riqui Puig suffered a torn ACL in the Western Conference final. Puig provided 13 goals and 15 assists this season, making his absence a heavy blow to the Galaxy’s attacking rhythm. You must consider how the loss of a playmaker who holds such high statistical contributions impacts the team’s transition play. Despite this, the Galaxy rely on the depth that Vanney added through summer additions like Diego Fagundez, Michael Barrios, Edwin Cerrillo, and Maya Yoshida. The roster features 15 different goal scorers, including Dejan Joveljic who scored 11 goals. Vanney, who led Toronto FC to an MLS Cup in 2018, hopes to restore the club after its difficult 2023 season where it finished with a record of 8-14-12.
The statistical standoff
The rivalry remains perfectly balanced, as both clubs hold 10 wins each in their head-to-head history, alongside 7 draws. LAFC relies on the scoring of Denis Bouanga and the presence of Hugo Lloris to secure results. The Galaxy must tackle the postseason without Hirving Lozano, who remains sidelined due to a thigh injury, while they also contend with the absence of Riqui Puig, who suffered a torn ACL in the Western Conference final. The Galaxy squad lacks the creative depth of Puig, but they remain a threat in the final third. This contest involves the LAFC lineup of Hugo Lloris, Sergi Palencia, Ryan Porteous, Aaron Long, Evgen Cheberko, Marco Delgado, Igor Jesus, Leo Walta, Heung-Min Son, Armindo Sieb, and Denis Bouanga. The Galaxy starting eleven includes James Marcinkowski, Harbor Miller, Emiro Garces, Justin Haak, John Nelson, Pablo Ruiz, Sergi Roberto, Robert Taylor, Erik Thommy, Joseph Paintsil, and Joao Klauss. The Galaxy must find goals through players like Joseph Paintsil to compensate for the missing Puig and the absence of other offensive contributors. This matchup follows a July encounter where LAFC defeated the Galaxy 3-2 at BMO Stadium. Will the Galaxy’s aggressive offensive style find gaps in the defensive organization that Cherundolo instilled in his squad?
