Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Uriel Antuna were the goalscoreres for the LA Galaxy on Sunday night aganst Real Salt Lake.
By Ivan Yeo
For all the talk about LAFC so far this season, the Los Angeles Galaxy are doing their part to join the conversation about MLS’s elite teams.
The surging Galaxy continued its upward trend in the Western Conference standings on Sunday, and while Real Salt Lake made then work for the three points on Sunday evening, the Galaxy still managed to find that extra step to get the 2-1 result at Dignity Health Sports Park.
“It was a good time today,” said Zlatan Ibrahimovic. “I think first half we were excellent, second I think we were a little tired. I think the fatigue came in the picture and this is also the third game this week. We played a couple of games this week. At least we won and we and we got what we wanted.”
The win gives the Galaxy it’s sixth win in it’s last seven matches, a stretch that has seen them go 6-0-1 during that run. The 19 points collected leaves the Galaxy (7-1-1, 22 points) just one point behind its crosstown rivals for first place in the West.
Ibrahimovic won the game for the Galaxy in the 78th minute. Diego Polenta lobbed a ball for Ibrahimovic, RSL’s Justen Glad cut off the pass, Sebastian Lletget chased down the ball, made a hesitation followed by a quick turn before playing a ball to Ibrahimovic, who fired a one-timer off his left foot that beat keeper Andrew Putna far post to give the Galaxy another lead. Ibrahimovic then had a few words for Nedum Onuoha after the goal.
“What happens on the field stays on the field, Ibrahimovic said about his Onuhoa, whom he had an earlier exchange of words with prior to the goal. “I like when it becomes duels and that because sometimes I, not that I fall asleep, but I don’t feel alive if they don’t activate me. They need to activate me because or else it becomes too easy. When I get angry, I feel good.”
The Galaxy struck first in the 16th minute. Polenta made a forward run from the backline and played a ball intended for Ibrahimovic, who let the pass go into the penalty area, an alert Chris Pontius quickly chased down the ball, Putna tried to beat him to it, but Pontius narrowly won the battle, as he got off a quick cross just before Putna could collect, and Uriel Antuna tapped the ball into an open net to give the Galaxy the lead.
“I’m adapting better to the team and getting the confidence from the coach and the players,” Antuna said. “I am very happy to be here and helping the team. I feel better each game and I’m very happy to help out the team in whichever way I can.”
The Galaxy took the lead into halftime and held it throughout the second half. Real Salt Lake however eventually caught the Galaxy in the 64th minute. Luis Savarino played a ball to an overlapping Aaron Herrera, who took a touch into the box and fired rocket that was stopped by David Bingham, but the ball continued into the six-yard box and Donny Toia tapped in the rebound shot uncontested into the far post net for the equalizer.
The Galaxy head cross-country next week for a showdown with the New York Red Bulls.
MLS
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