ZLAtan Ibrahimovic scored in the 8th, 56th, and 70th minutes to overcome Carlos Vela's two as Los Angeles "Galaxy" beat Los Angeles Football Club 3-2 in the El Trafico derby last night in Carson.
LAFC are the new gold standard in Major League Soccer, they lead the league by a whopping nine points over their nearest rival (double entendre there)..."Galaxy," and Vela is the league's top goal scorer this season. But "Galaxy" were the old gold standard; they once had Beckham, now they have Ibra. And to the exasperation of their best and brightest--and most competitive--ownership group LAFC have never beaten "Galaxy." They hate "Galaxy." Who can forget last year? Not they. In the first ever derby match "Galaxy" were down 3-0 in the second half in their own park. They pulled to 3-2. And then Zlatan happened. Forty-eight hours after landing in LA, LA drew them level with a 40-yard strike--"Oh come on! Come on!"-- that he caught in midair on his right foot. And then, only in near-Hollywood, in stoppage time--"Are you serious!--an LA header to win the match for "Galaxy." The quaking stadium shook the TV camera.
Last night did not match last year, could not match last year--What could?--but look at the first paragraph. Again LAFC took the early lead. On a Vela PK in the 4th minute; again Zlatan happened. Now "Galaxy" had the 3-2 lead. Again it was the other side's star who scored in stoppage time...But, it was too little, too late for Vela and LAFC. And again "Galaxy" won. Carlos Vela, I knew Zlatan Ibrahimovic; Zlatan Ibrahimovic was a friend of mine. Carlos Vela, you are no Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
LAFC are the new gold standard in Major League Soccer, they lead the league by a whopping nine points over their nearest rival (double entendre there)..."Galaxy," and Vela is the league's top goal scorer this season. But "Galaxy" were the old gold standard; they once had Beckham, now they have Ibra. And to the exasperation of their best and brightest--and most competitive--ownership group LAFC have never beaten "Galaxy." They hate "Galaxy." Who can forget last year? Not they. In the first ever derby match "Galaxy" were down 3-0 in the second half in their own park. They pulled to 3-2. And then Zlatan happened. Forty-eight hours after landing in LA, LA drew them level with a 40-yard strike--"Oh come on! Come on!"-- that he caught in midair on his right foot. And then, only in near-Hollywood, in stoppage time--"Are you serious!--an LA header to win the match for "Galaxy." The quaking stadium shook the TV camera.
Last night did not match last year, could not match last year--What could?--but look at the first paragraph. Again LAFC took the early lead. On a Vela PK in the 4th minute; again Zlatan happened. Now "Galaxy" had the 3-2 lead. Again it was the other side's star who scored in stoppage time...But, it was too little, too late for Vela and LAFC. And again "Galaxy" won. Carlos Vela, I knew Zlatan Ibrahimovic; Zlatan Ibrahimovic was a friend of mine. Carlos Vela, you are no Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
