By Wendy Pintor
Saturday’s match between the LA Galaxy and LAFC marked the 24th edition across all competitions of El Tráfico, the Galaxy now leading the all-time series 10-9-5 (52 GF, 51 GA). Against LAFC, the LA Galaxy hold a 8-7-5 (42 GF, 42 GA) record in league play, a 0-2-0 (5 GF, 8 GA) record in the MLS Cup Playoffs and a 2-0-0 (5 GF, 1 GA) record in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. In 12 all-time home matches played across all competitions against LAFC, the Galaxy hold a record of 8-2-2 (28 GF, 18 GA). In three meetings between the two teams during the 2024 MLS Regular Season, the Galaxy heId a 1-2-0 record (6 GF, 6 GA). In 24 all-time meetings across all competitions between the LA Galaxy and LAFC, El Tráfico averages 4.3 goals per match.
Down 2-0 at halftime, with LAFC scoring first to score at 4th minute: Denis Bouanga delivered a cross across the face of goal that was deflected by a Galaxy defender and was headed in from close range by Mateusz Bogusz. Then minutes after few later LAFC scores again 15th minute: Denis Bouanga dribbled down the left side of the penalty area and struck his shot in from a tight angle past LA Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy the LA Galaxy went into half time one one but came out to clinched a berth in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs turning the game a 4-2 in the second half.
Coming back from behind to win over LAFC before a sellout crowd of 25,174 fans at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday night. Dejan Joveljić recorded a brace, in the 53rd minute: Dejan Joveljić received a pass inside the penalty area, cut inside on his right foot and rifled his shot into the top left corner of the goal. Edwin Cerrillo notched his first career MLS goal 2 minutes later, at the 55rd minute, Riqui Puig slid a pass towards the top of the box to Edwin Cerrillo, who took a touch and drilled his shot into the top left corner to score his first career MLS goal. Tying the match 2-2 and leaving LAFC dumbfounded on the pitch.
You players that night held there ground as they push out LAFC’ s Bouanga “ I live for these moments as a player my celebration was a social decision that’s how it came to be, I really didn’t know what to do, I just knew I needed to stay more central and I always just try to reciprocate what I see in the fans. It felt nice and didn’t really know what to do. Said Edwin Cerrilllo after scoring his first goal.
Before the match Coach Greg Vanney said, “ We have to win, if we lose we won’t win the western conference.” Why you might ask? This gives LA the upper hand and the momentum, the electric comeback allows LA Galaxy that extra dopamine to focus on improving the minor mistakes Maya Yoshida also mentioned. In case they do meet up with LAFC again.
It took ten minutes for LA Galaxy to turn things around, the opportunist Joveljic came in second half and delivered. In the 67th minute: Marco Reus streaked down the right side of the penalty area and cut the ball back towards the top of penalty area to Riqui Puig, who played a first-time pass inside the six-yard box that was flicked in allowing them to be in the lead 3-2 and Riqui Puig tallied a goal adding the cherry on top in the victory against LAFC. In the 85 minute, received a no-look pass from Marco Reus at the top of the 18-yard box, took a touch and curled his shot around Kei Kamara and into the side netting.
Although LA Galaxy won and is now in first place with 29 points the team is not satisfied, “ I think we did well today but we need to continue to work on the little mistakes because first half is not how we want to show up and play for the remainder of the matches, added Captain Maya Yoshida. “ if we want to win it all we have to be even better defensively because to the MLS defense win games” also mentioned Riqui Puig.
With the win, the LA Galaxy became the first team in the Western Conference to clinch a berth in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. It marks the 21st time in 29 MLS seasons that the Galaxy have qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs, and the first time since the 2022 campaign.
Images: BZFilms
