Galaxy resumes pursuit of MLS Cup after three-week break

The Galaxy breezed through the opening round of the MLS playoffs.

In a two-game series, the Galaxy scored nine goals and advance with ease into Sunday’s Western Conference semifinal.

The Galaxy wrapped up that series Nov. 1. It is now just a few days before Thanksgiving.

“It’s been difficult,” Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig said of the inactivity due to the November international break. “We need to change because when you see all of the playoffs from NBA or baseball, you see they play every three days. It’s what we need in MLS, when you’re in shape, you don’t want to wait 23 days. I think it’s a lot.”

Now, the second-seeded Galaxy, who had two separate four-day breaks during the three-week respite, has to find its groove again as sixth-seeded Minnesota United FC visits for a 3 p.m. showdown at Dignity Health Sports Park. The Galaxy has announced the game is a sellout.

“The break is not ideal for anyone,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “Managing it, I think, it’s been as difficult on coaches as players.

“You have a good rhythm, you have a healthy team, you have a lot of things in your favor and now over three weeks, you can’t keep a team at the peak of their concentration and all of that. Now you’re trying to balance when to give players time away to refresh their minds and bodies, it’s half a preseason, but even in preseason we have friendlies and games to prepare.

“It’s just not ideal when you know you’re stepping on the field and your season is on the line and also for the fans who want to see a high-level, high-intensity game. You probably are going to get two teams who aren’t at their sharpest right at the moment and it’s going to be more about who can manage moments in the game, whether those are good moments or bad moments. For us, we’re trying to make sure we stay in as much of a rhythm as possible, keep our fitness at a level where we’re prepared to play 120 minutes if we need to. Trying to stay sharp and understand the vision for the game against the opposition we’re going to play.”

The Galaxy has had two tough meetings this season against the Loons. The first meeting ended 2-2 on May 15. Minnesota escaped with a draw with an 80th-minute goal, running the Galaxy’s winless streak to four games.

The next meeting was July 7 at Dignity Health Sports Park. The Galaxy led 1-0 after a 25th-minute goal by Gabriel Pec. Minnesota tied it in the 73rd, but Pec had the winner in the 90th.

“We’re going to play against a team that’s really good in defense,” Puig said. “It was tough games when we played against Minnesota, but I think it’s more about us than it is about Minnesota.”

The Loons advanced out of the opening round after stunning third-seeded Real Salt Lake in two games, both via penalty kicks.

The playoff format now reverts to single-game elimination. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, it goes to a pair of 15-minute extra periods and then, if needed, penalty kicks.