As if El Trafico couldn’t get anymore intense, now comes the latest plot twist.
The groups for the MLS is Back Tournament were released Thursday, and perhaps the biggest revelation was would be in Group F. The Houston Dynamo and the Portland Timbers are in the group, but the two teams joining them were the biggest eye opener, as LAFC and the LA Galaxy will also be in Group F, adding another level of intrigue to an already simmering rivalry.
The matchup between the Galaxy and LAFC has been intense on the field and in the stands since the rivalry inception in 2018 when LAFC joined the league. The two teams have played each other five times over the last two seasons, with the Galaxy coming out on top in the results column, winning twice and drawing three times. LAFC however got the one victory that mattered the most in last year’s playoffs, as LAFC eliminated the Galaxy 5-3 in the Western Conference Semifinals for its first win against its cross-town rivals.
The rivalry has produced some classic moments in just two years time. The first matchup alone at Dignity Health Sports Park (back then the StubHub Center) produced a lifetime’s worth of memories. LAFC’s Carlos Vela opened the scoring with a curling goal off his left foot, then added a second goal and LAFC had a three goal lead, but the Galaxy stormed back, thus setting the stage for Zlatan Ibrahimovic to announce his arrival to MLS. Ibrahimovic scored an equalizer on a volley from near the halfway line, then won the game with a header in stoppage time. The rivalry has also brought out the best from both teams’ star players. Ibrahimovic scored eight goals against LAFC during his two-year stint with the Galaxy, but Vela has been just as lethal against the Galaxy, as he also has scored eight goals in the rivalry.
Now the two teams will get to face each other in the group stage of the MLS is Back tournament. The pairing is a bit peculiar, especially considering the two New York teams did not get paired with each other. Perhaps MLS wanted to ensure the two teams face each other considering the remainder of the season after this tournament still hasn’t been decided. Also, the Galaxy and LAFC being paired together ensures that the two teams may meet again later in the tournament. Of course results would have to go both teams’ way, but the two teams being in the same group does raise that possibility.
