After success with the 3-5-2 formation, LA Galaxy fans clamored to keep it around, so of course Coach Greg Vanney immediately went back to the 4-4-2. The Galaxy moved the ball around pretty well, and Toronto FC didn’t get the memo to attack down the flanks until the second half. Plus, Riqui Puig apparently can run box to box for 90 minutes, so there’s that.
The team didn’t play with a traditional defensive midfielder amidst the 4-4-2, which put the defense under pressure at times. Brugman doesn’t really break up plays with tackles, though he is just as mobile as Puig which leads to good pressure.