The LA Galaxy kept their MLS Cup playoff hopes alive on Sunday, taking a 3-1 victory over Minnesota United in front of an announced crowd of 52,242.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic opened the scoring on the half-hour mark. The Swede headed home a Rolf Feltscher cross to give the visitors the advantage.
The Loons faithful thought their side had leveled the score nine minutes later, when captain Francisco Calvo made a streaking run forward from his left-back spot and fired past goalkeeper David Bingham, but his goal was flagged up for offside with the Costa Rica international making his run a half step too early.
But the real action wouldn’t begin until after the interval.
Ashley Cole crept in behind Miguel Ibarra on the left flank, and his inch-perfect cross was met by Ola Kamara, who tapped in a 2-0 advantage on 50 minutes. Less than a minute later, Ibrahimovic turned provider, sending a beautiful diagonal ball into the area for Romain Alessandrini to volley home with an exquisite finish to make the score 3-0.
Minnesota would get one back two minutes after that, when Angelo Rodriguez headed home a lofted cross from Darwin Quintero, cutting the final score to 3-1.
The Galaxy needed to win to keep their playoff hopes alive, and they did just that. With the Portland Timbers knocking off Real Salt Lake 3-0 at Providence Park, LA is now just one point behind RSL for the final playoff place in the Western Conference, with a game in hand.
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