The scene of fireworks going off over the Rose Bowl in PASADENA, California, was always going to be ideal.
Due to severe weather in Southern California, a highly anticipated match that was originally scheduled to epically kick off the Major League Soccer season at the Rose Bowl had to be postponed.
From February to the Fourth of July, everything was in place for LAFC and LA Galaxy to rekindle their rivalry in front of a new MLS record crowd of 82,110 fans. In addition, Riqui Puig ensured that the spectacle, in which Los Angeles’ original team defeated LAFC 2-1, was appropriate for the setting.
LAFC are the defending champions of the MLS Cup and the winners of the Supporters’ Shield, so it shouldn’t have been close on paper. On the other hand, the Galaxy are currently in the bottom half of the standings. However, regardless of the teams’ current standing or any other factors surrounding them, El Trafico always means more. In a stadium where the original teams of the late 1990s actually used to play, it was clear that the Galaxy were trying to set a precedent in what was technically their home game. The hosts controlled the first 45 minutes, with the exception of a very good chance in the 16th minute from LAFC leading scorer Denis Bouanga.
As is typical, Puig performed higher than everyone else on the field. In a game where the Spaniard’s family was present, his skill and speed were on full display. It paid off in the 26th minute when one of his risky runs gave him room to play and he fed Tyler Boyd, who fought off a defender and hit a big shot from the edge of the box to make it 1-0.
However, the Galaxy was always going to own this night. It just seemed like fate. A beautiful cross field ball from Douglas Costa to Boyd sparked Puig’s own goal, which he completed with an assist of his own. Puig was rewarded for his outstanding performance with a goal of his own.
In the 84th minute, Carlos Vela thought he had leveled the match, but he was slightly offside. “LA Galaxy” chants that got louder into the night drowned out the slight roar from the LAFC fans.
The Pasadena air was filled with blue and yellow smoke that subsequently followed.
These contests This competition
LAFC is unquestionably the better team at the moment, but in a historic moment for MLS and American soccer, Los Angeles was only part of one team.
Fittingly, it was the LA System.
