Ethan Zubak and Sebastian Lletget each scored a goal as the LA Galaxy earned their first win of the season with a 2-0 decision at LAFC on Saturday in a game that ruled MLS MVP Carlos Vela off early with an injury to ‘ e left leg.
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Despite LAFC emerging as one of the best teams in MLS in the last three seasons, the Galaxy (1-3-2, five points) have defeated their cross-town rival three times in yet another entertaining chapter in ‘ and the “El Traifco” derby. LAFC has one win in the regular season in the matchup, a 6-2 that is in group play of this year’s MLS Back Tournament.
LAFC (2-1-3, nine points) also eliminated the Galaxy from last year’s MLS Cup playoffs. The teams have played three times against one another, with the Galaxy undefeated (1-0-2) in three visits in the regular season to Banc of California Stadium.
The loss ended LAFC’s 11-game unusual streak of regular season dating to 2019.
Zubak, in his second career MLS start and sixth career game, delivered a header past LAFC goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer in the 26th minute. Cristian Pavon neatly controlled the ball after a short corner, and knocked it on to Julian Araujo who had the whole net open before him, but only managed to hit the post.
The combination Pavon-Araujo struck again to set up Lletget’s goal in the 54th minute. Pavon sent a pass to the right of the penalty area to Araujo, who sent a center pass to a charging Lletget for his first goal of the season.
“This win is for the fans I knew we were seeing from their homes,” said Galaxy midfielder Jonathan Dos Santos. It’s weird because we’ve never had this experience without fans. But we knew the fans saw us. We knew this game was really important to us, and I’m proud of my team. It’s a new experience playing without fans, but I think it all depends on us. ”
Vela was in the starting lineup for LAFC for the first time since March 8, after qualifying for the MLS’s Back Tournament, but his day ended early.
Vela left the game in the 58th minute with what appeared to be an injury to his left leg, ending his streak of 11 consecutive MLS games with a goal. It was the second longest goal-scoring streak in MLS history. Josef Martinez of Atlanta United FC scored a goal in 15 consecutive games in the regular season.
“We’ll need at least a day or two to fully assess, but just before that game he took a shot, the shot was blocked,” LAFC coach Bob Bradley said after the game. “That, that’s normally an MCL-type situation, that’s what we’ll be looking at the next day or two.
“It’s great to have him back, but when I said we did not have anyone who played well today, Carlos did not play well today. He was not active, he was not dangerous, he looked like one. who had not played a game for a long time. “
Zubak’s start came with Galaxy forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez still recovering from a calf injury that occurred during the MLS’s Back Tournament.
Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham made three saves in the shutout, his 17th in three seasons with the Galaxy and the 44th of his MLS career.
