Minnesota United’s second-deepest run in the MLS Cup Playoffs ended with a thud on Sunday.

Los Angeles Galaxy scored in the first minute of the Western Conference semifinal and could not be slowed down in a high-gear 6-2 win over the sixth-seeded Loons at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.

Instead of Minnesota advancing to the West final like they did in 2020, the second-seeded Galaxy will host the Seattle Sounders next weekend for a spot in MLS Cup.

The Loons had allowed only two goals over the final five games of the regular season and two matches in its first-round playoff series, but gave up three in the first half Sunday. Then Gabriel Pec was allowed to go on a galavanting run before scoring the fourth goal in the 50th minute. Two more goals were added after Loons center back Jefferson Diaz was sent off with a red card.

The Galaxy were the third-highest scoring team in MLS in 2024 and had scored nine times in two playoff wins over Colorado. Their stars were shining bright again on Sunday, with two goals apiece for Pec, Dejan Joveljic and Joseph Painstil. Talented midfielder Riqui Puig had a great assist on Pec’s opening goal and was able to keep finding spaces in the middle of the field.

Outside of Kelvin Yeboah’s two goals, the Loons were unable to match the Galaxy’s level of attacking talent. Midfielder Joaquin Pereyra, the Loons’ new Designated Player, was subbed out at halftime, continuing his inauspicious start in MLS.

Loons head coach Eric Ramsay called the Galaxy “predictably unpredictable” going into the game and answers were out of his grasp across the 90 minutes. Ramsay threw as many attackers he could in the second half: Tani Oluwaweyi for Pereyra as well as Teemu Pukki and Sang Bin Jeong.

A wild five-goal first half started off with a bang. A sensational pass from Riqui Puig was finished off by Pec after only 27 seconds. It was a record fast finish for Galaxy, but United’s fastest conceded goal remains the fastest after 13 seconds at Allianz Field during the 2022 season.

Kelvin Yeboah produced a fantastic finish into the upper corner of the net to tie the game after six minutes.

“It set the tone for a very chaotic feel to the game, which is absolutely opposite to how we envisioned that game played if it was going to be one that we were going to win,” Ramsay said. “Because they are a team that really thrives on chaos, open spaces to attack and I felt like after that really quick start from then and then our response, it was almost very difficult to claw back a sense of evenness in the game.”

But L.A. continued to dominate possession and fine days behind the Loons defense. Dejan Joveljic scored in the 18th minute and Jeremy Painstil made it 3-1 in the 37th minute.

Despite having less than 30% of the ball in the first half, the Loons were able to cut the lead in half with Yeboah’s penalty kick in the fourth minute of stoppage time. After Carlos Harvey was fouled in the box, Yeboah’s first PK attempt — a stutter-step — was saved by John McCarthy, but McCarthy was off his line and Yeboah got another shot. He didn’t hesitate and beat McCarthy.