By Rory Carroll
CARSON, California (Reuters) -LA Galaxy beat New York Red Bulls 2-1 with goals from Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic to win a record-extending sixth MLS Cup and snap a 10-year championship drought on Saturday.
The final looked like it would be one-sided when hosts and favourites Galaxy scored twice inside 13 minutes through Paintsil and Joveljic in front of a sun-soaked crowd.
The vaunted Red Bulls defence, who lost Andres Reyes just before the start of the game through illness, initially had no answer to Galaxy’s aggressive offence despite playing without key injured midfielder Riqui Puig.
The Red Bulls clawed one back in the 28th when the ball pinballed around in front of goal after a corner before finding Sean Nealis, who fired high past goalkeeper John McCarthy.
The goal immediately changed the tone of the contest as the home side began to play more tentatively and the Red Bulls began to go on the attack.
Both sides had chances in the second half and the Red Bulls battled to force extra time as the final whistle approached but Galaxy held firm as they sealed their first MLS Cup since 2014.
“To win a trophy again after 10 years is a special feeling,” said Serbian striker Joveljic. “We’re young, hungry guys and we deserve this 100%.”
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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