CARSON — The Galaxy fired the first blow inside of 30 seconds on Sunday’s Western Conference semifinal.
Minnesota responded soon, scoring an equalizer in the sixth minute, officially adding a bit of suspense to the game, but if there’s anything capable of landing a knockout blow, it’s the Galaxy.
Gabriel Pec’s 50th-minute goal, his second of the game, proved to be just one of those deciding punches.
Pec dribbled through, around and by several Minnesota defenders before sliding the ball past a sprawling Dayne St. Clair, restoring a two-goal lead, which Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic helped settle for a 6-2 win in front of 26,192 at Dignity Health Sports Park.
The win sends the Galaxy to the Western Conference Final next Saturday at home against the Seattle Sounders, their first conference finals trip since 2014, when they last won the MLS Cup.
The Galaxy built a 3-1 lead in the first half and appeared to be on the verge of an early rout, but Minnesota got a lifeline late in the first half when Carlos Harvey earned a penalty kick after going down.
Kelvin Yeboah’s first attempt was saved by Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy, but referee Rosendo Mendoza went to the video review and McCarthy left his line early. Yeboah’s second attempt was converted, cutting the Galaxy’s lead to 3-2 heading into halftime.
Pec made it 4-2 with his one-man counter-attack.
Minnesota United went down to 10 men late in the game and the Galaxy seized the opportunity.
Paintsil scored his second goal of the game in the 86th minute and Joveljic scored his second in the 89th for the 6-2 lead.