Watch Emmanuel Boateng score his brace

We should have seen it coming.

In his inaugural year with the LA Galaxy, Emmanuel Boateng has scored two goals and chipped in five assists in 17 starts.

Both of those goals as well as two assists came against Real Salt Lake.

And in the opening match of the 2016 Audi MLS Cup playoffs vs. the same Real Salt Lake side, Boateng was at it again, slicing and dicing RSL’s back four to shreds.

After a few warning signs, Ema would explode for a first-time brace that sealed LA’s advancement in the playoffs. His first tally came in the 26th minute, when Boateng somehow found a way to squeeze between two defenders before firing a low shot past goalkeeper Nick Rimando.

Eight minutes later, the Ghanian would complete his brace, cutting inside poor Demar Philips and striding on goal before sliding a neat finish past the beleaguered Rimando, who could only stare down Boateng as the team celebrated jubilantly.