By Ivan Yeo
If anybody was wondering why the Galaxy were willing to give Zlatan Ibrahimovic a raise that bumped up his salary from targeted allocation money status into Designated Player status, look to Sunday’s game as Exhibit A.
Ibrahimovic, who missed the Galaxy’s last two matches due to an Achilles injury, made his return to the Galaxy lineup and did not miss a step. Ibrahimovic went the full 90 minutes, drew two fouls that led to penalties, which he scored both times and just narrowly missed out on a hat trick as the Galaxy defeated the Portland Timbers 2-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park.
“As long as I can go, I go,” Ibrahimovic said. “We had the communication from the sideline and they asked me all the time, how is it, how is it. Every time I said, all good, all good and I kept going.”
It took about 10 minutes for Ibrahimovic to make his presence felt, and while he didn’t score, it surely was a sign of things to come on the night. Rolf Feltscher crossed a ball into the penalty area, Ibrahimovic reached his right foot out and somehow made contact with the ball, shooting it right at goal. However the shot hit off the far post and the ball was eventually cleared from goal. Ibrahimovic did all that even though it appears Timbers defender Julio Cascante appeared to hold Zlatan around the waist area all the way through to the shot attempt, though no call was made by referee Ted Unkel.
Ibrahimovic earned the penalty moments later, though the Timbers certainly had their doubts about the call. Joe Corona sent a ball towards the penalty area, Romain Alessandrini back-heeled a ball towards Ibrahimovic, who charged towards it, as did Portland’s Claude Deilna. The two players collided in the box and went to the ground, but Unkel judged Deilna to be the aggressor on the collision and awarded LA the penalty, which Ibrahomivc converted in the 33rd minute to give the Galaxy the lead.
“I think it will always be like that,” Ibrahimovic said about being a target for defenders. “I can … the biggest threat in the team, but I’m used to it. I’ve played more than 800 games, but I can still do a lot of 50 … and no worries, just need to put some ice on afterwards everywhere and try to recover as soon as possible.”
Ibrahimovic came through for the Galaxy again in the 64th minute with the game tied at one. Zlatan dribbled towards the penalty area and his dribbling enabled him to split a pair of Timbers defenders on his way into the box. Portland’s keeper Jeff Attinella came out to try to beat Zlatan to the ball, his sliding tackle got Ibrahimovic and Unkel again made the decision to award the Galaxy the penalty, which again Portland protested, to no avail. Ibrahimovic converted the penalty for his second goal of the match, which restored the Galaxy’s advantage.
“They were clear penalties,” Ibrahimovic said. “The first penalty was clear, I mean he came from back and he hit me and I went down. The second one, I’m 37 but I’m still fast and it was a clear penalty.”
Ibrahimovic wasn’t the only Galaxy player to return to action on Sunday night. Romain Alessandrini missed LA’s previous match with a hamstring injury, but he returned to the starting 11 on Sunday night and went 74 minutes.
“We have worked hard together since three weeks and tonight was good for me,” Alessandrini said. “I am glad to be back, no injuries so good feeling tonight and day by day, game by game I will be better.”
While the Galaxy were certainly glad to have both players back on Sunday, their availability for the next match will be in question, as their next match will be on the turf in Vancouver. Ibrahimovic however raised the possibility he could play in that match.
“I have no problem with turf fields and last season was special because of my knee injury, which people forgot because I was playing every game almost and I was feeling good,” Ibrahimovic said. “Coming into a new season, I feel fresh, I feel good, but I have this issue with my Achilles, but it was feeling good today and let’s see during the week what happens. If I feel like I do today, I’m present, so all the fans can come and enjoy.”
MLS
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