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When it comes to El Trafico, one thing you can always do as both a fan of either LAFC or the Los Angeles Galaxy, throw out the records and assumed both side are on equal footing.
Sunday night’s match at Dignity Health Sports Park proved to be no different from the previous iterations. Both side again laid it all out on the pitch, going back and forth, scoring timely goals and providing plenty of drama, so perhaps it was only fitting that the two teams again had to settle for a draw, this one a 2-2 score line.
“I like these games, especially when you play home with the home crowd,” Galaxy midfielder Marco Reus said. “For me, it’s always an opportunity to step up for the team and for myself, as well. It was a big game. I think they was not expecting us that we showed that mentality, especially in the second half when we didn’t have that much changesBut like I said, we don’t give up. We showed mentality, and that’s the only way.”
The result is the sixth time that the two sides from the City of Angels have had to split points. The Galaxy were led by Reus, who had a brace in the match, while Denis Bouanga and Nathan Ordaz found the back net for LAFC. The Galaxy could take some solace in snapping its five-match winless streak, though LAFC in return can boast about keeping the Galaxy winless on the season, while stretching its own unbeaten streak to seven matches.
“It was great to be in front of our crowd because the energy felt wonderful for our guys,” LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said. “We’re proud of them and happy that they are sticking with us and supporting us through the challenges, and we keep fighting. I thought the guys fought tonight.”
It was the Galaxy actually getting on the front foot for once in a game this season. Gabriel Pec played a ball that was dummied by Reus, the ball went to Christian Ramirez, who played a ball forward right that sprung Pec down the left side, Pec dribbled into the penalty area, shot a ball that was stopped by keeper Hugo Lloris, but Reus trailed the play tracked down the ball, knocked the ball off his right leg and across the goal line for a sixth-minute goal to stake the Galaxy to the early advantage.
LAFC however caught a break, which allowed them to get back in the match. Maya Yoshida intercepted a pass, but just as quickly as he broke up a Galaxy attack, Yoshida reignited another attack, as his forward pass was intercepted by former teammate Mark Delgado, who after taking a quick touch played a ball to Bouanga, who cut inside to avoid Miki Yamane, then after seeing a sightline unleashed a 27-yard laser of a volley, off his right foot no less, and the ball sailed past McCarthy’s back post into the back net for a 13th minute wonder strike that sent the LAFC fans in attendance into a frenzy.
The match stayed tied at one at halftime, then five minutes into the second half, LAFC surged ahead. Eddie Segura passed to Ryan Hollingshead on the right side, Hollingshead made his customary dribble down the right, made a cutting move inside, played a ball forward into the penalty area, Ordaz timed his run perfectly to get behind Yoshida into the box, then slotted the shot past McCarthy near post to give LAFC the lead.
The Galaxy thought they had caught LAFC in the 78th minute, as Reus sprung Pec down the right side, Pec dribbled inside the penalty area, deked Frankie Amaya to the pitch, then slotted a shot past Lloris far post to level the match. However, referee Drew Fischer soon got the call from the VAR staff to take a second look at the events leading up to the goal, and what Fischer and VAR concluded was that Pec was offside, though not by much, when Reus released the pass, therefore the goal was waived off.
Given how it’s season has gone so far, a moment like that would have been a crushing blow for the Galaxy, but not this game, not against this opponent. An LAFC foul gifted the Galaxy a free kick just outside the penalty area, Reus stepped up for the set piece, and he sent the free kick over the LAFC wall and past the outstretched Lloris at the near post for an 87th minute equalizer.
