CARSON, Calif. — In a thrilling matchup on Saturday night, Dejan Joveljic netted his fifth goal of the playoffs in the 86th minute, leading the LA Galaxy to a 1-0 triumph over the Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference final. This victory marks the Galaxy’s first appearance in the MLS Cup final since 2014.

Next Saturday, the Galaxy will host the New York Red Bulls in the championship match. The Red Bulls made history by becoming the first No. 7 seed to reach the title game after their 1-0 win against Orlando City in the Eastern Conference final.

This upcoming final will be the Galaxy’s sixth opportunity to compete for the MLS Cup; they previously clinched the title in all five previous appearances. The Red Bulls will be aiming for redemption in their second final, having fallen to the Columbus Crew in 2008.

Joveljic’s decisive goal came after a strategic interception by the Galaxy near the sideline. Mark Delgado gained possession and quickly passed to Riqui Puig, who then skillfully set up Joveljic at the edge of the penalty area. Joveljic took his shot, successfully placing it past Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei into the near left post.

Goalkeeper John McCarthy was instrumental in the Galaxy’s shutout, registering four saves, which contributed to his total of eight shutouts across all competitions this season. Frei matched McCarthy’s performance with four saves of his own, but the Galaxy held a slight edge, recording 13 shots to the Sounders’ 8.

Entering the playoffs as the second seed in the Western Conference after a year of absence from postseason play, the Galaxy displayed their determination by besting Colorado in the first round and overwhelming Minnesota with a 6-2 scoreline in the semifinals.

Interestingly, the Galaxy and Red Bulls did not meet during the regular season, setting the stage for an exciting and unpredictable final showdown.