Late goal helps Galaxy earn draw against rival LAFC in El Trafico
CARSON — The atmosphere sounded and felt big.
The first El Trafico meeting of the season Sunday, brought rival fans of LAFC and the Galaxy together, loudly chanting and singing at each other, sometimes in support of their teams.
For Galaxy, a late goal was taken away and another followed that would count, bringing back that hope of a potential win and a much-needed three points.
On one hand, the result extended the Galaxy’s (0-10-4) season-opening winless streak to 14 games, but the Galaxy was able to salvage a point in a 2-2 draw against LAFC in front of 23,083 at Dignity Health Sports Park.
The draw snapped a five-game losing streak for the Galaxy.
Marco Reus scored the tying goal on a free kick moments before the end of the 90 minutes.
“Hell of finish by Marco on the free kick,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “We needed him to step up and he did in that moment.”
The meeting was the 25th all-time between the two rivals and just like nearly all of them, the late-game drama didn’t disappoint.
In the 78th minute, Gabriel Pec scored to tie the game at 2-2, or so he and every Galaxy fan, player and coach thought. However, after the celebrations, referee Drew Fischer was called to the video review monitor and it was determined that Pec was offside.
Nearly 10 minutes later, the Galaxy set up for a free kick. Reus stepped up and beat Hugo Lloris to his left for the game-tying goal. In his last two games, Reus has two goals and two assists. In his last five, has six goal contributions (three goals, three assists).
“We showed not the best game in the second half as a team, but after 2-1, we did good, tried to manage the midfield,” Reus said. “We had 2 or 3 opportunities. It doesn’t feel like a draw. I told the guys we should win this game, but I liked how we came back from 2-1.
“We wanted to win this game, but we keep going and will try next time.”
Despite some late attempts at game-winning magic, the game would end in a draw, finally moving the Galaxy off of three points, giving them four, but maybe building momentum going forward.
“I think from the past games, we had to take the positives out of each and every performance,” Galaxy midfielder Edwin Cerrillo said. “We don’t win, but take a positive performance and we definitely build on that.”
Nathan Ordaz’s goal in the 50th minute gave LAFC a 2-1 lead, just inside the first five minutes.
“We came out slow in the second half at the beginning, we talked about winning or be even at the end of the first 15 minutes (of the second half), that’s something we’ve got to be better at,” Vanney said. “And we give up a goal in the first five minutes after that and the response is good.
“We start to get a little bit more proactive, a little more aggressive in ways that we need to and we start to move the game back in their half of the field.”
The Galaxy opened with the perfect start as Reus scored in the sixth minute, knocking home a rebound off of an initial shot by Pec, which was spilled by Lloris. It was just the second time all season the Galaxy scored the first goal in a game, and the first didn’t happen until last Wednesday.
“The thing I thought we did well tonight is we got some numbers into places where we were able to play in combination, move the ball quickly, penetrate, get to the endlines and get through lines,” Vanney said. “I felt like we built some speed in some of the transitions. There are some good things inside of the game on the attacking side.
“It was great to be home in front of our crowd because the energy felt wonderful for our guys. We’re proud of them (the fans), they’re sticking with us and supporting us through the challenges and we keep fighting
The early lead, however, didn’t last long. In the 13th minute, LAFC scored the equalizer on a strike from approximately 23 yards out that settled into the side netting, past an outstretched arm of Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy.
However, unlike other games, the Galaxy was able to find a way to secure a point.
“We were able to manage our emotions because the emotions have been tough on us this year,” Vanney said. “But to be able to manage our emotions through the course of the game to get the equalizing goal, I think says a lot for the group’s commitment and togetherness and they continue to work for and belief in each other.”
The Galaxy will finish out a three-game stretch against California teams, with a trip to face San Diego FC Saturday and return home May 28 to host Real Salt Lake.