4 top matches between the LA Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls | OneFootball

Five months ago, the Los Angels Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls squared off with the 29th MLS championship on the line. Thanks to a 2-1 victory, the Galaxy took home a league-most sixth title.

They have not won an MLS game since. The defending champions are desperate for a win after going 0-3-8 in their first eleven games. They dropped a 1-0 game against Sporting Kansas City as their opponent did not take a single shot attempt.

On Saturday, the LA Galaxy will travel to the east coast and play the Red Bulls. Since their 2-2 draw on August 7, 2016, the six-time MLS Cup winners have gone have won five of the last eight games against the Red Bulls.

Here are the four best matches between two of MLS's original soccer clubs.

1. December 7, 2024; LA Galaxy 2, NY Red Bulls 1

The MLS Western Conference had a number of top teams that looked primed to win the champions. The second-seeded LA Galaxy dominated in the playoffs.

In the East, the Red Bulls stormed through the postseason. They swept the 2023 MLS Cup champs, the Columbus Crew, and then eliminated NYFC in their own stadium.

This set the stage 29th MLS Finals. The LA Galaxy were on pace to score the most postseason goals.

With Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic finding back of the net in the first half, that's all the Los Angeles Galaxy needed to win in their record tenth MLS Cup Finals appearance.

2. April 13, 1996; LA Galaxy 2, NY/NJ Metro Stars 1

Before they were the New York Red Bulls (and before NYFC became a team), the New York/New Jersey Metro Stars were one of the ten original soccer clubs in MLS.

The inaugural season was in 1996. Both the LA Galaxy and the MetroStars had their first game in the league.

Played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, more than 69,000 fans were in attendance. History was made when LA Galaxy star Cobi Jones scored the team's first-ever goal. Giovanni Savarese scored the only goal for the MetroStars in this game.

The LA Galaxy would go on to eventual win the Western Conference but lose to D.C. United in the first-ever MLS Cup Finals.

3. August 18, 2007; NY Red Bulls 5, LA Galaxy 4

This one was a pure shoot out. With nine goals scored between both teams, a third of them came within the first ten minutes.

One of the most iconic moments took place in MLS history as international sensation David Beckham made his first start in the league during this contest.

After the Red Bulls' Juan Pablo Angel landed the early goal at the 4th minute of action, the LA Galaxy's Carlos Pavon scored twice within three minutes to give his team a 2-1 lead.

Clint Mathis tied it up 2-2 before the half. His score game during stoppage time in the first half. Jozy Altidore added to more for New York, giving the home team a 4-2 lead deep in the second half.

The LA Galaxy's all-time leading scorer Landon Donovan put one past Red Buls goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus in the 71st minute. Less than ten minutes later, Edson Buddle tied it up, 4-4.

Angel had the difference maker for the Red Bulls in the 88th minute. New York would go on to finish third in the MLS Eastern Conference and the Galaxy failed to make the playoffs for just the second season in a row.

They had made the postseason in every year before that streak. When the Galaxy returned to the playoffs, they would go as far as the 2009 MLS Cup Finals but lose to Real Salt Lake.

4. September 28, 2014; LA Galaxy 4, NY Red Bulls 0

This game was epic as it was the biggest shutout victory the LA Galaxy ever had against the Red Bulls. Longtime Galaxy member Robbie Keane had his first of two goals early on in the first half.

That score would have been enough as the Red Bulls could not produce on offense that outing. Not only did Landon Donovan record the assist on that goal for the LA Galaxy, he would have two more and score once himself. Donovan had a part in each of the Galaxy's four goals.

The captain's goal came just minutes into the second half. His precision passing led to a score from Gyasi Zardes and the second goal from Keane.

As the Los Angeles Galaxy was wrapping up the 2014 MLS season, they had another championship in mind. They would eventually go on to make their third MLS Cup Finals appearance in four seasons. The Galaxy won the 2011 and 2012 titles, too.