In another fiery edition of “El Trafico,” Zlatan Ibrahimović played spoiler again by netting a perfect hat trick in a 3-2 win against Los Angeles FC, which has yet to beat its crosstown rival in four meetings now.
Ibrahimović told ESPN on Thursday that he was a superior player to LAFC’s Carlos Vela despite the latter’s impressive start to the season. He backed it up with Friday’s performance.
Naturally, it was the in-form Vela who opened the scoring from the spot within four minutes. It was his 20th goal is as many games, and is the fastest to reach that tally in MLS history.
Vela himself drew a penalty from an onrushing David Bingham. The whole ordeal could have been avoided though had the Galaxy not sloppily given away the ball that lead to the LAFC counterattack that resulted in the penalty.
But it was the self-proclaimed "Ferrari among Fiats," Ibrahimović, who backed up his comments as the best player in the league. The giant Swede leveled the scoring with a brilliant volley from just outside the 18 within minutes, juggling past two defenders to free himself up for the shot.
ARE YOU KIDDING US?!@Ibra_official levels the game in style! #LAvLAFC pic.twitter.com/Q9VUeKZ13f
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 20, 2019
Ibrahimović got his second from a header following an inch-perfect cross to the second post by Diego Polenta 10 minutes into the second half.
Who else?! @Ibra_official with his head and it's 2-1 @LAGalaxy. #ElTrafico pic.twitter.com/Zgn5PBunmd
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 20, 2019
And the third goal to cap off the perfect hat trick was a sweet left-footed strike from distance to seal the game. The Ferrari was on full throttle while the other 21 Fiats just couldn’t reach the Swede’s quality.
ZLATAN HAT TRICK! #ElTrafico pic.twitter.com/SlB4VSkQHV
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 20, 2019
LAFC seemed to shut down offensively after conceding the second goal and any spark of a comeback was extinguished after the third.
Vela scored LAFC's second in the 97th minute, but it probably should have been called back for offside, but maybe the referee just felt sorry and wanted to add some extra drama in the final seconds. Ultimately, it led to nothing.
LAFC remains in first place of the Western Conference while the Galaxy leapfrogged to second. Zlatan now has 16 goals in 17 games and is now second only to Vela, so yeah, his statement has merit.
The Los Angeles-based derby is fast becoming the most enthralling rivalry in MLS, and with Zlatan himself capturing headlines on virtually every occasion, we’re here for it every time these two West coast rivals square up.
