The Race Between Ibrahimovic and Vela Continues, Both Score in Last Night’s Games

LA Galaxy managed to win last night, while their local rivals LAFC continued its winless streak. We once again saw both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Carlos Vela hitting the back of the opponent’s net.

As the end of the season nears to its end, things are getting more and more intense in the Major League Soccer. The battle for the playoffs is getting more and more intense, and each point might be the one which makes a difference in the end.

Los Angeles Galaxy doesn’t have the luxury of not winning at home. Ibrahimovic and the boys are in a tough position, as they chase the best possible spot before the start of the offseason. But not only that, the Galaxy still didn’t secure the playoff spot at all. The competition in the West is very, very harsh, and even the ones who are very high in the standings might end up without anything in the end.

Last night Galaxy defeated Montreal Impact who also had its combinations to reach the seventh spot in the East. The home team was the better side in this one, and they dominated things on Dignity Health Sports Park. Zlatan Ibrahimovic opened the match in the 31st minute, scoring his 27th goal of the season. Jonathan Dos Santos’ shot from the edge of the box, at first hit Uriel Antuna, and then Ibra, who managed to get the control of the ball. From some seven yards, the Swedish international didn’t have any problems of beating Impact’s goalie.

That was the result at the halftime, but as soon as the second half started, the guests shocked the home team and the fans with an equalizer in the 48th minute. It was Lasso Lappalainen who headed the ball away past David Bingham.

Still, the Galaxy bounced back in a short period of time. Antuna picked up an assist from Ibrahimovic who served the ball to his teammate, missing the initial shot from the box, but using the second one and giving the edge to his crew.

“We just have to keep moving, keep winning to win (the spot for) the playoffs,” said Antuna following the match.

Until the end of the game, the guests were not in the position to harm Galaxy, who could have scored at least one more goal, but somehow missed all those chances.

“I think I could score another two, three goals,” said Ibra after the match.

They are now third in the West with 48 points, two fewer than Seattle Sounders on the second, and four more than Dallas in the eighth.

Meanwhile, across town, the leaders in the standings couldn’t win their fifth match in a row. LAFC played just 1-1 against another Canadian team, Toronto FC. If it weren’t for Carlos Vela with his penalty equalizer in the fifth minute of the stoppage time, things would be pretty bad for the hosts.

LAFC showed two different faces in this one. The first 45 minutes were pretty bad, with Toronto in control and leading, while things improved in the second half.

“Two very different half,” said Bob Bradley. “When they got a grip on the game in the first half we were a step behind. I thought our response in the second half was good.”

Tsubasa Endoh brought the lead to the guests in the 19th minute of the match. Jozy Altidore found him on the left side inside the box, and Endoh aimed the net very well, silencing the crowd at Banc of California Stadium. This was the only shot on goal for Toronto in the match, but anyway, they managed to keep LAFC restrained until the halftime.

Things changed in the second 45 minutes. The home team responded after a bad period, and it was now them who pressured the rivals and dictated the tempo of the play. The fans had to wait almost until the end of the match to see a goal, and it came in the stoppage time, after using the VAR system. Latif Blessing was brought down in the box by Chris Mavinga, but the referee Ted Unkel needed to check out the entire situation.

After confirming the call, Carlos Vela stepped up and scored. It was his 29th goal of the season, two more than Zlatan Ibrahimovic. LAFC is first in the West and awaits the playoffs from that place.