Joseph Painstil, a Ghanaian winger, was the standout of LA Galaxy's 2024 Major League Soccer Western Conference final.
At the Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles, the five-time winners crushed Minnesota United 6-2, with the 26-year-old scoring two goals. After hitting double figures in the regular season, Painstil, who joined the American team in February, has been a vital member of LA, helping the team advance to the playoffs.
After a fantastic ball from Riqui Puig, Gabriel Pec gave the home team the lead in the first minute of Sunday night's thrilling first match.
Italian-Ghanaian forward Kelvin Yeboah gave the visitors a point five minutes later with a fierce left-footed effort.
Before Paintsil scored his first goal of the match in the 37th minute, Dejan Joveltic gave LA Galaxy the lead eleven minutes later after heading in a freekick from Marco Reus.
Miki Yamane's cross from the right was well-measured and met by the Ghanaian winger. Yeboah converted from the penalty spot in the 45th minute to score again just before halftime.
With Pec scoring his second of the game, it was all LA after the interval. The winger missed a penalty in the 78th minute, which prevented him from scoring a hat trick.
With four minutes left, Painstil picked up a pass from John Nelson on the left and curled home to add his second of the game.
Jovetic then completed the win with LA's sixth. In the Western Conference final, the LA Galaxy will play the Seattle Sounders.
Source: Ghana Soccernet
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