Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic scored to extend LA Galaxy's league-leading tally of MLS Cup titles to six with a 2-1 victory over the visiting New York Red Bulls.

The championship match, held at a sold-out Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, got off to a flying start for the home side. After a quick build-up from the Galaxy, who were missing injured star player Riqui Puig, midfielder Gastón Brugman played a through ball to Paintsil, who made it 1-0 after slotting the ball past Red Bulls keeper Carlos Coronel.

The Galaxy then quickly doubled their lead after Marky Delgado got back possession in the 13th minute and gave Joveljic the chance to pick up a pass, run forward and sneak a shot past Coronel to make it 2-0.

The Red Bulls eventually managed to reduce the deficit with their first attempt of the match. After a bit of a chaotic sequence in the box following a corner, the Red Bulls were given a lifeline through a goal from defender Sean Nealis in the 28th minute.

Despite conceding a goal, the Galaxy managed to hold on and control the second half.

The home side were keen to keep the scoreline tight and sat back, inviting pressure from the Red Bulls, who rarely tested goalkeeper John McCarthy. The Galaxy didn't make the most of a few chances in the last few minutes, but their two goals in the first half were enough to give them a 2-1 win by the end of the match.

The Galaxy, who now have a two-point lead over four-time winners D.C. United, have finally ended their title drought, which started back in 2014. The Red Bulls, previously known as the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, are still one of three original clubs to have never won an MLS Cup, along with the New England Revolution and FC Dallas.

The Galaxy finished the season with an impressive 17-0-3 record at their suburban stadium, which has seen many names over the years. The final saw a sellout crowd of 26,812, with several sections of travelling Red Bulls supporters cheering on their New Jersey-based club in the hope of a breakthrough on the biggest stage in MLS.

Greg Vanney of the Galaxy is the fourth coach to win an MLS title with two clubs. He also won the title with Toronto in 2017.

However, Vanney had previously lost three MLS Cup finals with LA as a player between 1996 and 2001. Going into this season, the Galaxy had only made it to the postseason once under Vanney since he took over in 2021.

"I fell on my face three times as a player," Vanney said. "So finally to come back to the club that is home for me, I'm just, I'm proud. And I'm grateful for my family who puts up with me and my immersion in this project. I'm just really excited."

One of the players who filled in for Puig was Gastón Brugman, whose effort in the final earned him MVP honors.

"This is an amazing day," Brugman said. "I waited for this moment a lot of time. And I'm really happy for the fans, for Riqui, for the club, for us. It's an amazing day."