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LA Galaxy and LAFC treated fans to another classic El Trafico installment at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday evening, with the hosts triumphing 2-1 in a match that came down to eight action-packed minutes of stoppage time.
Javier "Chicarito" Hernandez put the Galaxy up within the first 15 minutes, as Samuel Grandsir played in a pinpoint cross that evaded an on-charging Maxime Crépeau en route to the striker's head for the opener. Then, after Carlos Vela hit the post on one attempt and was called offside on an apparent equalizer, Grandsir got his second assist of the match, again going left-to-right on a pass that Sega Coulibaly poked in at the far post in the 31st minute.
LAFC finally got their first goal in the 79th minute; Vela couldn't convert on an attempt set up by a long throw-in, but Cristian Arango put back the rebound to halve the lead, setting the stage for a wild finish.
GOALS
- 13' - LA - Javier Hernandez
- 31' - LA - Sega Coulibaly
- 79' - LAFC - Cristian Arango
THREE THINGS
- THE BIG PICTURE: The Galaxy still have never lost an El Trafico match in Carson, and with Saturday’s result, extended their seven-match streak to five wins and two draws. For LAFC, this marks their first defeat in six matches under first-year head coach Steve Cherundolo and they're still atop the Western Conference table despite dropping this road result. Still, it was a gut-punch ending for the Black & Gold after thinking that Blessing had salvaged a road point against their arch-rival.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: The debate over whether Fall was really offside on the chaotic final sequence of the match will continue to rage on, and becomes another touchstone in the rivalry's growing lore.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Grandsir made an early case for himself and ultimately made the difference with two assists. His dime to Coulibaly on LA's second goal was a thing of beauty.
Next Up
- LAFC: Sunday, April 17 vs. Sporting Kansas City | 1:00pm PT (ESPN, ESPN Deportes)
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