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Still Alive: LA Galaxy win at Minnesota United FC to keep playoff hopes alive

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. (October 21, 2018) – The Gs ain’t dead yet. LA Galaxy defeated Minnesota United FC 3-1 on Sunday afternoon. Combined with Real Salt Lake unable to win at Portland Timbers, this LA Galaxy win keeps their playoff hopes alive.

Still Alive: LA Galaxy win 3-1 at Minnesota United FC to keep playoff hopes alive

Who else could have opened the scoring? Thirty minutes in Zlatan Ibrahimovic got an open header at the far post and converted. Ola Kamara sent a towering cross in that only the superstar could reach after some good work in possession by Sebastian Lletget.

Early in the first half, Kamara would double the advantage, less than a minute after having his shot cleared off the line by Michael Boxall. Lletget sent a ball into the box that Ashley Cole squared to Kamara who had a tap-in right on the six-yard line.

The Galaxy would shock the Loons on the next kick off. Lletget created a turnover at midfield. Ibrahimovic completed a great pass to Alessandrini, who volleyed the shot to make it 3-0.

Minnesota would pull one back in the 53rd minute. Angelo Rodriguez won the ball in the air on a header to beat goalkeeper David Bingham on a cross by Darwin Quintero.

The Loons had two goals called off-sides in this match. In the first half, Francisco Calvo was called off on a play that he ultimately scored. In the 83rd minute, Rodriguez was called off on a run he made between the center backs to then score.

The match ended 3-1.

Three takeaways:

Stars show up: The attacking stars for the Galaxy showed up in this one. Ibrahimovic was fantastic, playing 90 minutes on turf. The movement and skill from Kamara and Alessandrini were on display, not just on the goals. Jonathan dos Santos continues to be an excellent solo holding midfielder, allowing Lletget to thrive.

Loons collapse again: Minnesota have now lost three games in a row by an aggregate score of 10-2. Manager Adrian Heath has lambasted his team in that time and the performance just wasn’t good enough. The finishing has lacked at times and the defense continues to be horrible.

Playoffs still in sight: The Timbers defeated RSL 3-0, meaning the Galaxy are just one point behind RSL. Salt Lake is on a bye next week, so an LA Galaxy win at home against Houston Dynamo and they are in as the sixth seed.

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