A turbulent season will have a locked down end date for the LA Galaxy.
A season filled with enough events to last certainly more than one season will definitely end on October 21, when they host FC Dallas in its season finale, and Minnesota United saw to that on Saturday night. The Loons got a huge night from Teemu Puuki, as his four goals, three of them coming in the second half, as well as an assist on the opening goal carried Minnesota to a convincing 5-2 win at Allianz Field.
The result eliminates the Galaxy (10-15-8, 35 points) from playoff contention, meaning the Galaxy will miss the playoffs for the fifth time in the last seven seasons. Minnesota (10-12-11, 41 points) prolongs its own playoff hopes, as they and Sporting Kansas City are one point behind Dallas for the Western Conference’s final playoff spot heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
Tied at one with time running out in the first half, Puuki restored Minnesota to the lead as the half headed towards stoppage time. Emmanuel Reynoso played a ball over the Galaxy defense, Puuki times his run perfectly to get behind the back line, Puuki touched into the backline and fired the shot, keeper Jonathan Bond got a piece of the shot, but not enough to prevent the ball from trickling across the goal line for an important go-ahead goal right before the half.
Minnesota and Puuki were just getting started. Puuki doubled the Minnesota advantage in the 60th minute, as a series of deflected balls eventually ended up at Puuki’s feet. Puuki, who just inside the penalty area at the very top, took a touch to get himself into shooting position, then fired a right-footed shot that beat Bond to make it a two-goal game. Puuki tripled the lead in the 67th minute, as Reynoso played a ball to Bongokuhle Hlongwane inside the box, Hlongwane then played Reynoso towards the six-yard box, which drew out Bond, Reynoso passed back to Hlongwane, but sensing he did not have a clear shot, played a ball to an unmarked Puuki, and he made the Galaxy pay, as he slotted the shot into the back net. Puuki completed his second half hat trick in the 76th minute, as Franco Fragapane pounced on a loose ball and led a Minnesota break. Fragapane then sprung Puuki on the left side, Puuki took a quick touch, then slotted the shot past Bond far post to wrap up his spectacular night.
Puuki also had a hand in Minnesota’s first goal of the match. Puuki dispossessed Raheem Edwards and quickly passed to Hlongwane on the right. Hlongwane took a quick touch, then played a ball to Hassani Dotson inside the penalty area, the ball deflected off Dotson’s feet, bit well enough to get himself into shooting position, and he fired the right-footed shot past Bond far post to give Minnesota the early advantage. The Galaxy however had a response in the 41st minute, as Maya Yoshida played a ball to Tyler Boyd on the left side, Boyd dribbled all the way insid the penalty area, then fired a shot that beat keeper Dayne St. Clair far post to level the match.
