United States Major League Soccer
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LA Galaxy 4-3 Los Angeles Football Club

Zlatan Ibrahimovic marked his LA Galaxy debut with a match-winning cameo as his side came from 3-0 down to beat new boys Los Angeles FC.

The 36-year-old, stealing the show once more, came on with 20 minutes left and scored a remarkable equaliser from 35 yards before heading in a stoppage-time winner

"I heard the crowd saying 'We want Zlatan, we want Zlatan,' he said.

"So I gave them Zlatan. They were pushing me, and I was giving back."

Galaxy had pulled a goal back before Ibrahimovic was sent on in the 71st minute. And, after he was involved in the build-up for Chris Pontius' header, the Swede struck.

There did not appear to be any immediate danger as an LA FC goal-kick was nodded back upfield but the former Manchester United forward crashed an unstoppable shot on the bounce over the head of goalkeeper Tyler Miller.

And Ibrahimovic scored the winner in stoppage time, nodding in at the near post from what might have been an offside position.

MLS tweet
"I am not arrogant, I am confident," Zlatan told a news conference this week...

He was booked for taking his shirt off after his first goal, but even by his own high standards it was a sensational finish.

He had previously scored on his debuts for Manchester United, Paris St-Germain, Malmo, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Juventus.

"My history when I come to a new team, I always score in the first game - I didn't want to let it down this time," he said.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic
How LA Galaxy celebrated Zlatan's opener

Former Arsenal forward Carlos Vela had put the MLS new boys in control with two excellent goals in the first half, including a deft chip in off the underside of the crossbar.

An unfortunate own goal from Daniel Steres put Bob Bradley's side 3-0 up, before a defensive error allowed Sebastian Lletget to pull one back.

Then - as so often in his career - it was time for Ibrahimovic to hog the headlines.

Line-ups

LA Galaxy

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Bingham
  • 25Feltscher
  • 5Steres
  • 16Skjelvik
  • 3Cole
  • 2Kitchen
  • 14CarrascoSubstituted forHusidicat 61'minutes
  • 19PontiusSubstituted forRomneyat 84'minutes
  • 17LletgetSubstituted forIbrahimovicat 71'minutesBooked at 78mins
  • 24Boateng
  • 11Kamara

Substitutes

  • 4Romney
  • 6Husidic
  • 9Ibrahimovic
  • 15Lassiter
  • 20Hilliard-Arce
  • 22Klimenta
  • 41vom Steeg

Los Angeles Football Club

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Miller
  • 3Beitashour
  • 5Jakovic
  • 23Ciman
  • 44Bragança Moutinho
  • 33FeilhaberSubstituted forBlackmonat 82'minutes
  • 14Kaye
  • 7BlessingSubstituted forAtuestaat 68'minutes
  • 10Vela
  • 9Rossi
  • 21Ureña

Substitutes

  • 2Harvey
  • 11Kovar
  • 20Atuesta
  • 24Lyon
  • 25Zimmerman
  • 27Blackmon
  • 50Pacheco
Referee:
Mark Geiger
Attendance:
27,068

Match Stats

Home TeamLA GalaxyAway TeamLos Angeles Football Club
Possession
Home58%
Away42%
Shots
Home11
Away14
Shots on Target
Home6
Away5
Corners
Home5
Away1
Fouls
Home9
Away5

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, LA Galaxy 4, Los Angeles Football Club 3.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, LA Galaxy 4, Los Angeles Football Club 3.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Ashley Cole (LA Galaxy).

  4. Post update

    Steven Beitashour (Los Angeles Football Club) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Goal!

    Goal! LA Galaxy 4, Los Angeles Football Club 3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy) header from the left side of the six yard box to the top right corner. Assisted by Ashley Cole with a cross.

  6. Post update

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Laurent Ciman (Los Angeles Football Club).

  8. Post update

    Attempt missed. Eduard Atuesta (Los Angeles Football Club) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Marco Ureña.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Baggio Husidic (LA Galaxy).

  10. Post update

    Carlos Vela (Los Angeles Football Club) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  11. Post update

    Marco Ureña (Los Angeles Football Club) hits the left post with a right footed shot from the left side of the box. Assisted by Diego Rossi following a fast break.

  12. Substitution

    Substitution, LA Galaxy. Dave Romney replaces Chris Pontius.

  13. Substitution

    Substitution, Los Angeles Football Club. Tristan Blackmon replaces Benny Feilhaber.

  14. Post update

    Corner, Los Angeles Football Club. Conceded by Perry Kitchen.

  15. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Carlos Vela (Los Angeles Football Club) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Ashley Cole (LA Galaxy).

  17. Post update

    Eduard Atuesta (Los Angeles Football Club) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  18. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Carlos Vela (Los Angeles Football Club) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mark-Anthony Kaye.

  19. Booking

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.

  20. Goal!

    Goal! LA Galaxy 3, Los Angeles Football Club 3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy) right footed shot from outside the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Daniel Steres with a headed pass.

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Saturday 31st March 2018

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1New York City FC431083510
2Columbus Crew SC531195410
3New York Red Bulls420210556
4Atlanta United FC32017616
5Philadelphia Union21102024
6New England Revolution311145-14
7Orlando City SC411268-24
8Montreal Impact310245-13
9Toronto FC310234-13
10D.C. United402259-42
11Chicago Fire200246-20

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Vancouver Whitecaps FC531177010
2LA Galaxy42117617
3Sporting Kansas City42119907
4Los Angeles Football Club32019546
5Minnesota United FC420268-26
6FC Dallas31205235
7Houston Dynamo31117434
8Real Salt Lake411249-54
9San Jose Earthquakes21015503
10Colorado Rapids201134-11
11Portland Timbers301227-51
12Seattle Sounders FC200204-40
View full United States Major League Soccer tables