Galaxy, LAFC kick off new season of `El Trafico' series
One side of the supporters in the rivalry want to rename the series. The other side doesn't seem to care what it's called, but that's probably just to antagonize the other side.
Whatever it's called, the rivalry between the Galaxy and Los Angeles Football Club takes on a different sort of vibe this year.
LAFC enters today's first meeting of 2022 in first place in the Western Conference. The Galaxy, thanks to last week's 3-1 win on the road over the Portland Timbers, is in third place.
Factor in a national television audience on Ch.11 at 4:30 p.m., with LAFC's Carlos Vela and the Galaxy's Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez in good form, and this has big moment written all over it.
“In games like this, is you usually don't have to overly motivate guys, it's more keeping guys focused on the intentions and the execution of things,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “A big chunk of these games sometimes is just winning duels and little things, hustle, things like that, but it's also staying focused on the attention to the game and what you're trying to accomplish.”
In the short history of the series known as “El
Trafico” — a nickname that is part nod to L.A.'s notorious freeway congestion, part play on words for “El Clasico,” and widely chided by LAFC faithful and personnel — the Galaxy has found a way, even when things have looked bleak.
No one will ever forget the first meeting, when newly signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic entered in the second half and, in less than 30 minutes, engineered a memorable Galaxy comeback for a 4-3 win.
In the COVID-19 season of 2020, the teams met four times, including once in Florida.
Last year's meetings included a 3.7 earthquake during the May 8 meeting that saw the Galaxy record a 2-1 win. In August, the Galaxy rallied from a 3-1 deficit to secure a point with a 3-3 draw and the third meeting ended 1-1.
During their brief history, the Galaxy (3-2-0, 9 points) has a 5-3-5 advantage, but LAFC has the one win when the teams met in the 2019 MLS Cup playoffs.
Galaxy midfielder Raheem Edwards was on the other side last year with LAFC. He joined the Galaxy in the offseason as a free agent.
“When I was with LAFC, it was, `We need to be the better L.A. team,'” Edwards said. “Here, it is more of the same. We need to be the better L.A. team. We're not going to look at the past scores, we're just going to take it one game at a time and obviously this is the Battle of L.A., so it's going to be electrifying, like it's always been.
“Getting a win against your rival is always a good thing. A little extra boost to your season.”
LAFC, under new coach Steve Cherundolo, is one of three teams yet to lose this season (4-0-1, 13 points).
“They have a lot of quality that they can execute in one or two plays,” Vanney said. “And next thing you know, you're on the wrong side of it. They have that capacity to hurt you in limited number of chances, which is always a tough team to play against.
“They'll play a little bit on the edge and force you to beat them.”
The excitement and buzz on the field have taken a different tone in the crowd between the supporters.
Violence between the two groups seemed to escalate last season. Last month, both teams agreed to “an enhanced security plan” for this season's games.
The plan features “designated sections on the concourse for the safe division of supporter areas and includes seat relocation opportunities, specific stadium services for traveling supporters and rules regarding opposing team colors in supporter sections.”