2012 season | ||||
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Owner | Philip Anschutz (AEG) | |||
Coach | Bruce Arena | |||
Major League Soccer | Conference: 4th Overall: 8th | |||
MLS Cup | Champions | |||
CONCACAF Champions League (11–12) | Quarterfinals | |||
CONCACAF Champions League (12–13) | Quarterfinals | |||
U.S. Open Cup | Third round | |||
Desert Diamond Cup | Champions | |||
Honda SuperClasico | Won | |||
California Clasico | Lost | |||
Top goalscorer | Robbie Keane (16) | |||
Highest home attendance | 27,000 (six matches) | |||
Lowest home attendance | 16,512 v San Jose Earthquakes (May 23, 2012) | |||
Average home league attendance | 22,984 | |||
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The 2012 Los Angeles Galaxy season was the club's 18th year of existence as well as their 17th season in Major League Soccer (MLS) and their 17th consecutive year in the top-flight of American soccer. The Galaxy entered the season as both the defending MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield winners.
The 2012 campaign was highlighted by the Galaxy successfully defending their MLS Cup title, defeating Houston Dynamo, 3–1, in the MLS Cup final to win their fourth ever MLS Cup championship, tying D.C. United for the most league championships in MLS history, and the second most in North American history.
Although Los Angeles defended their MLS Cup trophy, the club failed to defend the Supporters' Shield, losing on point differential to their upstate rivals, the San Jose Earthquakes on point total. Most of this is to blame due to poorer performance early on in the season, before a second-half season resurgence.
Elsewhere, the Galaxy also competed in 2012 Desert Diamond Cup, winning the preseason tournament, the 2011–12 and 2012–13 CONCACAF Champions League, as well as the 2012 U.S. Open Cup. In the 2011–12 edition of the Champions League, the Galaxy reached the quarterfinals before losing 4–3 on aggregate to Canadian side, Toronto FC. In the 2012–13 edition, the Galaxy won their group for the second straight year, and reached the knockout round, which will be played during the 2013 campaign. Finally, the Galaxy were eliminated in the third round proper of the Open Cup losing to second-tier North American Soccer League outfit, Carolina RailHawks.
In noncompetitive tournaments, the Galaxy hosted Spanish club, Real Madrid, in the 2012 World Football Challenge, losing the exhibition match, 1–5.