Zlatan. Zlatan. Zlatan.
I promise, I’m not trying to trigger any PTSD episodes for LAFC Supporters. It’s just for every one person screaming not to hand MLS Cup to LAFC after two matches, there’s now 10 more calling it “Major League Zlatan.”
Fair enough. The big Swede certainly lived up to the hype on Saturday, but I’ll just throw this out there from Elias Sports: Zlatan Ibrahimović is the first player to score twice in his MLS debut since Jermain Defoe for Toronto FC in 2014.
If memory serves me correct, Defoe didn’t go on to conquer MLS and there wasn’t exactly a happy ending for him in Toronto.
But Zlatan is not what I’m here to spotlight. I want to shine a light on the performance of Carlos Vela through the first 60 minutes of the match, a performance that any other day would be absolute Man of the Match quality.
Vela took up his usual free role in the attack against the Galaxy, and from the start was the guiding force for LAFC.
His curling strike just five minutes in was a harbinger of what was to come from LAFC in the first half. And I’d argue it was still the best strike on the day. When you take into account Vela’s ability to side step a defender with ease. Then adjust his body positioning while going away from goal. Capped off by leveraging an inch-perfect shot curled from outside the frame of the goal and into the top corner. That’s just world class. And something only very few players have the technical skill to execute.
As the half continued, Vela popped up in pockets of space all around the pitch. The Galaxy couldn’t get within five yards of the Mexican international giving him time to not only collect the ball, but also pick his head up and dial in his preferred connection.
Look at the amount of passes Vela played into the Galaxy’s half. They’re not simple five-yard passes, either.
Vela was spraying the ball all over the pitch with little resistance. And as an encore to his first goal, he conjured up this bit of magic.
Crossbar and down. Vela’s awareness and calm in that situation are incredible on its own. Throw in his ability to lift the ball over five Galaxy defenders on the goal line, and you’ve got another potential Goal of the Week.
Sadly, we all know how this story ends. The Galaxy’s adjustments in the second half neutralized LAFC’s supply to Vela. And as Bob Bradley pointed out, there was a more concerted effort to man mark Vela out of the match in the second 45.
But like Bradley said, the team will learn from this moment. As I’m sure Vela will too. It’s just a shame that on any other day, a performance like this wouldn’t be overshadowed.
