Ghana winger Joseph Painstil
Ghana winger Joseph Painstil starred as LA Galaxy booked their place in the 2024 Western Conference final of the Major League Soccer.
The 26-year-old scored a brace as the five-time champions thumped Minnesota United 6-2 at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles.
Painstil, who joined the American club in February, has been a key figure in LA, helping the club reach the playoffs after hitting double figures in the regular season.
In an electric start to the game on Sunday evening, the hosts opened the scoring through Gabriel Pec in the first minute, finishing off a brilliant Riqui Puig pass.
Five minutes later, Italian-Ghanaian forward Kelvin Yeboah levelled for the visitors with a ferocious left-footed strike.
Dejan Joveltic gave LA Galaxy the lead 11 minutes later after heading home a Marco Reus freekick before Paintsil netted his first of the game in the 37th minute. The Ghanaian winger met a well-measured cross from the right Miki Yamane.
Yeboah struck again before half-time after converting from the spot in the 45th minute.
After the break, it was all LA, with Pec getting his second in the game. The winger was denied a hat-trick after missing a penalty in the 78th minute.
Painstil added his second of the game with four minutes remaining after picking John Nelson’s pass from the left and curling home before Joveltic sealed victory with LA’s sixth.
LA Galaxy will face Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference final.
