During its five previous seasons in the league, LAFC has accomplished quite a lot.
From establishing a mesmerising home field advantage, to establishing itself as a marquee MLS franchise reaching the final of the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League, to winning two Supporters Shield titles and finally the MLS Cup last season and prime for another run through MLS and CCL run this year, LAFC has accomplished quite a lot in its short but exciting time in America’s top flight.
However, the one thing LAFC had yet to accomplish during its time in MLS; defeating the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park. Sure, LAFC has for the most part overtaken the Galaxy as the number one franchise in Los Angeles. Yes, LAFC has beaten the Galaxy in the two most important matches in the rivalry’s brief but intense history (two victories in the MLS Cup playoffs) and they had earned points in Carson courtesy of draws, but despite some close calls, LAFC had never emerged victorious on the Galaxy’s home pitch. Well, LAFC can finally cross that objective off the list, as a brace from Carlos Vela, followed by a Ryan Hollingshead goal enabled LAFC to finally celebrate a win over the Galaxy on its home turf following the 3-2 result.
“Tactically, we weren’t our best,” LAFC defender Ryan Hollingshead said. “So with all that being what was true and still being able to get three points, I think shows we can win when it’s scrappy and we need to just grind out three points.”
The win keeps the good times going for LAFC (5-0-2, 17 points, who are the last unbeaten team in MLS, though they are currently second in the Western Conference, one point behind St. Louis City SC. But while LAFC is headed one way, the Galaxy are going another way, as they are one of two still winless teams to start the season.
“For a lot of the day, I was pleased with our performance, I was pleased with our effort. Our energy,” Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said. “We punished ourselves today. We killed ourselves today. And that’s unfortunate, against a good team that has momentum in their favor.”
Tied at one in the 66th minute, LAFC was gifted the opportunity to grab the lead in the 66th minute, as a Raheem Edwards throw-in intended for Sega Coulibaly inside the penalty area was easily pounced on by Jose Cifuentes, Coulibaly tackled Cifuentes inside the penalty area, leaving it a rather easy decision for referee Armando Villarreal to award LAFC the penalty. Two minutes later, Vela stepped up and buried the penalty to his left as keeper Jonathan Klinsmann guessed wrong, and LAFC was back in front.
Two minutes later, LAFC had a corner kick on the right side, Vela curled the corner into the penalty area and Hollingshead headed a ball just outside the six-yard box that beat Klinsmann far post and just like that, LAFC was suddenly up by two goals. That third goal must have felt like personal vindication for Vela, as moments prior to that corner, a fan had threw a drink at Vela, though Vela came out of that incident relatively unharmed.
“I respect when the people are screaming everything, but when you put somebody at risk, that’s not fair,” Vela said. “They can tell me whatever they want, I feel good about that because it makes me want to work harder, but when its something that can hurt you, that’s not good for anybody and the show.”
However, in the true nature of El Trafico, the Galaxy did not go down without a fight. Riqui Puig fired a right-footed volley from about 25 yards out in the 81st minute, the shot got past keeper John McCarthy, but did not beat the framework, as the shot hit off the left post. A minute later, Puig threaded a pass to Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, and a missed tackle by Aaron Long freed up Chicharito for a breakaway, Chicharito got inside the penalty area and fired away, but McCarthy came up with the save. The Galaxy did finally pull a goal back in the 84th minute, as Joveljic was sprung down the left side, Joveljic crossed into the penalty area for Chicharito, but with Long trailing behind him, Chicharito chose to dummy a ball, and the move worked, as Marky Delgado was freed up for an open netter inside the six, which he buried to get the Galaxy back in the match. The Galaxy kept the pressure on, as McCarthy just managed to get his right hand on a Lucas Calegari chance in stoppage time, and the ball sailed over the crossbar.
Photo courtesy of the LA Galaxy.
The Galaxy fought until the bitter end, but it was not enough to prevent LAFC from finally winning at Dignity Health Sports Park.
LAFC went ahead in the 22nd minute. Vela received a ball from Denis Bouanga inside the penalty area at the right corner, Vela played a ball back outside the box to Cifuentes, who then looked to pass, but Delgado came in from behind and deflected the pass. The ball however fell back to the foot of Vela, still inside the penalty area and now wide open, and he seized the advantage, curling a shot past Klinsmann at the far post to put LAFC in front. The Galaxy however answered in spectacular fashion in the 41st minute, as Tyler Boyd launched a right-footed volley from about 27 yards out, McCarthy dove and actually got a piece of the shot but not enough to prevent the goal that leveled the match a first time.
“I tend to like the big games,” Boyd said. “I always have to give glory to my lord and savior Jesus Christ, but very disappointed in the result. It would have been very sweet scoring my first goal in the my first derby if we won, but the defeat trumps all of that and we leave feeling disappointed.”
LAFC looks to continue its unbeaten run on Saturday, as they travel to Tennessee to face Nashville SC, while the Galaxy will try again to get its first win of the season, as they host Austin FC, also on Saturday.
