IBRAHIMOVIC LIGHTS UP THE GALAXY ON DEBUT
ZLATAN Ibrahimovic announced his arrival in Major League Soccer with two goals on his debut, including an injury-time winner, as the Los Angeles Galaxy fought back from three goals down to beat Los Angeles FC 4-3 on Saturday.
Ibrahimovic – who only arrived in California on Thursday – lashed home an imperious volley from 37m just six minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute to make it 3-3 at the StubHub Centre.
The Swede then headed home Ashley Cole’s cross in injury time to put Galaxy ahead in an extraordinary finale that lived up to the hype surrounding the veteran striker’s arrival from Manchester United.
“If you look back, every team I played for, I scored in my first official game. I wasn’t going to let that stop today,” a delighted Ibrahimovic said afterwards.
“I heard the crowd saying: ‘We want Zlatan, we want Zlatan.’ And I gave them Zlatan.”
Ibrahimovic’s winner was the final act of a thrilling first ever derby between the Galaxy and expansion side LAFC, who had surged into a 3-0 lead early in the second half after two goals from Carlos Vela and an own goal from Daniel Steres.
Slack play from LAFC allowed Galaxy to pull a goal back through Sebastian Lletget in the 61st minute after dogged work from Servando Carrasco.
The home crowd then roared in appreciation in the 71st minute when Ibrahimovic made his entrance from the substitutes bench.
The 36-year-old had an instant impact and was involved in the build-up which led to Galaxy’s second goal, headed in by Chris Pontius from Emmanuel Boateng’s cross.
Suddenly the Galaxy dared to dream of an improbable comeback, and when Ibrahimovic thundered home his equaliser on 77 minutes, the home side had drawn level.
Los Angeles Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid hailed Ibrahimovic’s “world class” second goal.
“Ibrahimovic is the perfect definition of a guy who always dares to be brilliant,” Schmid said. “If you do that, you can pull off things. That’s a goal that will go around the world.”
LAFC had a chance to regain the lead when Costa Rican international Marco Urena hit the woodwork late on.
But Ibrahimovic was determined to have the last word.
Former England left-back Cole stormed forward down the left flank and crossed into the area, and Ibrahimovic guided home the header to launch his MLS career in the most dramatic way possible.