The path for the Galaxy to the CONCACAF Champions League is through the Leagues Cup.
The Galaxy, who are headed toward their worst season in their MLS history, can take away a bit of the sting if they’re able to finish at least third in Leagues Cup play. The top three finishers will qualify for next year’s CONCACAF tournament.
For the Galaxy, that path will continue with a win against Pachuca in Wednesday’s late quarterfinal (8:45 p.m.) as part of a Leagues Cup doubleheader at Dignity Health Sports Park.
“Right now, everything is locked in on this game,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “I think for our opportunity to win something this year, this is game is everything to get to the next step of actually accomplishing something, whether that’s a championship, Champions League, but something to take out of the season.
“This is pretty much all eggs in the basket tomorrow (Wednesday) to try to move on.”
A win would advance the Galaxy to the semifinals next week against either the Seattle Sounders or Puebla. For as long as the Galaxy are alive in the tournament, they will host at home.
“It’s a one-game knockout scenario,” Vanney said. “If we look at our performances inside of this event, in particular, they’ve been very solid. I think we build off of those things.”
In between their last Leagues Cup game – a 4-0 win over Santos Laguna on Aug. 4 – and this one, the Galaxy suffered losses to the Sounders (4-0) on Aug. 10 and Inter Miami (3-1) on Saturday. If there is a switch to be flipped, the time is now.
“I think that knowing that there is silverware close, everybody is prepared for this game,” Galaxy midfielder Diego Fagundez said. “Everybody’s hungry for it.”
Pachuca finished second in the Liga MX standings after Phase One on seven points. Known as the Tuzos, Pachuca is currently in first place (4-1, 12 points) in the Liga MX’s current campaign.
“It’s gonna be a great matchup for us,” Vanney said. “It’ll put a lot of challenges in front of us, as Leagues Cup has. They’re a very good team. Their results show that.”
The results on the season haven’t gone the Galaxy’s way, unlike last season’s championship run, making this tournament important.
“They’ve been very consistent,” former MLS coach and current analyst Giovanni Savarese said of Pachuca. “They’re going to be a tough team to play against. Playing at home, that’s going to be an advantage for the Galaxy. This is definitely the most important match that the Galaxy is going to have this season.”
The first game of the Carson doubleheader will feature Toluca against Orlando City SC at 6 p.m. Toluca had a higher hosting priority than Orlando City.
LEAGUES CUP: PACHUCA at GALAXY
When: Wednesday, 8:45 p.m.
Where: Dignity Health Sports Park
How to watch: Apple TV+ (MLS Season Pass)