Chicharito and Galaxy hold on to El Trafico Derby
The matchup all of the MLS and the Angelinos have all been waiting for since the arrival of Chicharito to the LA Galaxy. Carlos Vela versus Chicharito on the pitch had eluded us the past two seasons, and this time around barring any last-minute scratch we were to finally have the long-awaited match up.
The LA Galaxy came into this game having won their last matchup in Portland to the tune of 3-1 with Chicharito having scored his 4th goal of the season.
LAFC also came into this match having gotten an impressive away victory after they went into Orlando and won with a resounding 4-2 scoreline.
The atmosphere pre-match was electric with fans from both teams heading to their seats extremely early in anticipation of the LA Derby.
Matchtime
As the match began both teams were having extremely costly defensive mistakes that soon someone was to capitalize on it. The Galaxy did just that, and for one person in particular it was a dream start as Chicharito was able to score a header off a Samuel Grandsir assist to give Los Galaxticos the early 1-0 lead in the 13th minute.
Carlos Vela had the golden opportunity to tie the derby in the 23rd minute as Kwadwo Opoku stole the ball in the offensive third and gave a pass to Vela with just Bond to beat. Vela shot the ball past a sliding Bond but hit the right post and was unable to give LAFC the 1-1 tie.
Only a few minutes later Carlos Vela off a free kick was able to head the ball into the net, but was deemed offside and confirmed after a VAR review. One of a few offside calls the Vela was called for throughout the derby.
The game continued very sluggishly as both teams continued to make defensive mistakes and once again the Galaxy was able to capitalize. In the 31st minute, Sega Coulibaly was left unmarked at the backside of the box as a cross by Grandsir gets past all LAFC defenders. Coulibaly got the ball then sent a shot past Crepeau for the 2-0 lead that the Galaxy took into halftime.
In the 2nd half, LAFC was able to control possession of the match and dictate the pace as they had Galaxy in their defensive third most of the 2nd half. Unfortunately for the Black & Gold, they could not capitalize on their opportunities in the half.
This wasn’t until a throw-in for LAFC in the 79th minute was sent toward Carlos Vela who shielded his defender and let the ball bounce once inside the box, after Vela sent a shot that bounced off of Jonathan Bond but was left just in position for a charging Cristian Arango. Arango was able to just push the ball into the net cutting the LAFC deficit to just a 2-1 score.
In true El Trafico fashion, the derby could not end without some serious moments of a gasp for air and controversy. As the referee called for 8 minutes of stoppage time which would bold well for LAFC who was looking for the equalizer. In the final minutes of stoppage time, Latif Blessing was able to find a rebound after a Mamdou Fall shot inside the box and Blessing was able to push it into the net.
The LAFC fans were cheering loudly which they have not been throughout the game as their team had finally found the equalizer in the final minutes. Unfortunately for these fans and LAFC, the referee was called for a VAR review and after going to the monitor deemed that Blessing was offside and disallowed the equalizing goal.
Dignity Health Sports Park exploded with excitement after the VAR decision overturned the goal by Blessing and the referee ended the match with LA Galaxy taking the El Trafico with a 2-1 score.
LA Galaxy took the three points and improved to 2nd in the Western Conference standings with 12 points and handed LAFC their first loss of the season leaving them still in 1st place but now only one point ahead with 13 points.
The LA Galaxy will now go on the road to Chicago and face the Fire on Saturday April 16 at 5:00 pm PST. Meanwhile LAFC will host Sporting KC next Sunday April 17th at 1:00 pm.
