Swanson: LAFC still has the edge, but Galaxy’s gains make El Trafico more fun
LA Galaxy defender Maya Yoshida, right, vies for the ball against Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga during the first half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil, right, dribbles the ball against Los Angeles FC midfielder Eduard Atuesta during the first half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Julián Aude, front, is upended by Los Angeles FC midfielder Timothy Tillman during the first half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Marco Delgado, left, vies for the ball with Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga during the first half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga celebrates after scoring a goal against the LA Galaxy during the first half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga converts a penalty kicks for a goal against the LA Galaxy during the first half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Kei Kamara, top, heads the ball for a goal against the LA Galaxy during the first half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec, left, kicks the ball against Los Angeles FC midfielder Ryan Hollingshead during the second half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig, right, moves the ball past Los Angeles FC midfielder Eduard Atuesta during the second half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Miki Yamane, center, controls the ball as he is defended by Los Angeles FC midfielder Ryan Hollingshead (24) and Los Angeles FC midfielder Eduard Atuesta during the second half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Jalen Neal, left, kicks the ball as he is chased by Los Angeles FC midfielder Eduard Atuesta during the second half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig kicks the ball as he is challenged by Los Angeles FC midfielder Ilie Sánchez during the second half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Jalen Neal (24) white, vies for the ball against Los Angeles FC midfielder Ryan Hollingshead (24) during the second half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
A fan waves a flag during the second half of an MLS soccer match between the LA Galaxy and the Los Angeles FC at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec kicks the ball against the Los Angeles FC during the second half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Mauricio Cuevas kicks the ball against the Los Angeles FC during the second half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Edwin Cerrillo (20) looks to pass against the Los Angeles FC during the second half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Kei Kamara, fifth from left, scores a goal past LA Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy, right, during the second half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil, center, kicks the ball against the Los Angeles FC during the second half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC head coach Steve Cherundolo looks on during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the LA Galaxy at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney reacts during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Los Angeles FC at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec, not pictured, scores a goal past Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris (1) during the second half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Ilie Sánchez controls the ball against the LA Galaxy during the first half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris (1) catches the ball in the air against the LA Galaxy during the second half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig dribbles the ball against the Los Angeles FC during the second half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Marco Delgado looks to pass against the Los Angeles FC during the second half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy, left, deflects the ball against the Los Angeles FC during the second half of an MLS soccer match at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
PASADENA – You’re supposed to throw the records out in a rivalry game like El Trafico, the consistently compelling grudge match between L.A.’s two Major League Soccer teams.
But why would you want to?
Not this meeting. Not this season. Not with sole possession of first place in the Western Conference at stake Thursday night at the Rose Bowl, where 70,076 fans celebrated the Fourth of July with a 2-1 victory over the L.A. Galaxy at their original place of play.
Hot dogs, burgers, apple pie and … soccer.
Do we do that here?
The U.S. Men’s National Team’s recent results might leave some doubt, but in L.A.? Yeah, we do.
Fireworks in the sky and flares in the stands. Football in the Rose Bowl; futbol in the Rose Bowl.
LAFC asserting its advantage, subduing a much-improved Galaxy team in a match that reflected where the sides stand in this battle for Los Angeles, both teams streaking, tied atop the Western Conference with 40 points and a conference-best 41 goals.
After a long, nearly decade long dormancy, the Galaxy finally are gaining again. But LAFC is on another level.
Although this was the first time the two sides ran into one another with so much momentum – the Galaxy rode in having won four consecutive games and six of its past seven.
LAFC came in unbeaten in a club-record 11 consecutive games, including nine in a row in league play.
And LAFC added a tally to both of those totals after former Leuzinger High School star Kei Kamara headed in the game’s first goal in the 39th minute, Denis Bouanga cashed in on a penalty kick five minutes later and the Black & Gold defense dominated and frustrated their “hosts,” who were stuck and stymied for all of the first half.
The second half was more like it. More like El Trafico, which in its 22 previous editions, had never featured fewer than two goals and altogether has averaged 4.3 per goals match.
Accordingly, Gabriel Pec (who scored in the 56th minute Thursday) and Riqui Puig and Miki Yamane launched a heartfelt if short-lived response in the second half before LAFC put the lid on the match.
The Black & Gold’s victory was the second against the Galaxy this season and served to avenge last season’s 2-1 July 4th loss at the Rose Bowl – which had been good for bragging rights but not much else. The Galaxy finished a turbulent season 13th out of 14 Western Conference teams, with a total of 36 points.
This year, it’s different.
This year, the Galaxy promoted Will dKuntz to general manager and he made the prudent decision to invest in a couple of dynamic young wingers, Pec and Joseph Paintsil, who have helped turn the team into something their fans can be proud of.
So, yeah: This year, these El Trafic collisions really mean something, in the stands and in the standings.
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“It’s frustrating to lose to your city rival, it doesn’t matter what side of it you’re on – but especially when you’re both competing to be at the top,” said Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy, who was on the losing side last season as a member of LAFC.
“It does change it a little bit,” LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said. “Look, from the outside looking in is really difficult, but it looked to me as if the Galaxy players had something today to lose. They were not the underdogs today, and that is different, that’s a different burden.”
For both sides, the team trying hard not to lose ground in the standings and the team that had to fend off that inspired surge – on Thursday and quite possibly again in the postseason, when there’s even more on the line.
“I said it before, and I’ll say it again, there’s a huge possibility we could do something special,” McCarthy said. “It’s just game by game, moment by moment and really pushing. And LAFC … it’s a good team, and has been the last two seasons. And now they’re on a good little run again, if we meet them (in the playoffs) I hope we flip the tape on them. That’s how it goes sometimes.”
LAFC, of course, will be hard to flip. The MLS Cup champions in 2022, MLS Cup finalists last season and certainly the better team Thursday, they’re building a special case too – inserting themselves in the conversation as one of the all-time best MLS teams. And reinforcements are on the way yet, with French football legend Olivier Giroud set to join the team this summer.
We know for sure we’ll get one more regular-season between the sides, at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sept. 19 — when L.A.’s equally entertaining soccer teams’ all-time record against each other will be a fitting 9-9-5. Not that that matters, unless you’re a fan keeping track in the stands.
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