Riqui Puig gave an exhibition on Tuesday for the LA Galaxy to defeat Los Angeles FC (LAFC) 2-1 in a memorable match for the MLS, which with 82,110 spectators at the iconic Rose Bowl broke the attendance record for a match in the history of this league
With a great setting in the stands of this stadium where the 1994 World Cup final was played, Puig celebrated the 4th of July holiday in the US with an enormous performance in this exciting Los Angeles derby that he capped off by scoring the goal of the victory.
The Catalan celebrated his goal by pointing to his number several times, a gesture very similar to the one he made in May after another great goal against LAFC -this time taking off his shirt and showing it to the stands- and which reminded the famous image of Leo Messi in 2017 celebrating an epic 2-3 win for Barcelona against Madrid.
Thousands of people have come to Pasadena on July 4 to enjoy the soccer game between the Galaxy vs. LAFC and then enjoy the fireworks.
Puig was tonight the conductor of this Galaxy that is in great need of joy, since he came to this game as the penultimate in the West, with four draws in a row and with a season full of disappointments after the long-term injuries of the Mexican Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández and the Uruguayan Martín Cáceres.
Tyler Boyd signed the first goal for the Galaxy and the Spanish Ilie Sánchez got the target for LAFC.
Current MLS champion and led by the Mexican Carlos Vela, LAFC, who missed numerous chances to draw in the final minutes of the duel, now has three straight losses.
This special edition of “El trafico” (the colloquial name of the MLS Los Angeles derby) was supposed to have been played on the first day of the MLS, but it was postponed until July 4 due to the rains that fell in February in the south Of California.
The mark of 82,110 fans surpassed the previous MLS game attendance record that until today had the 2022 game between Charlotte and the Galaxy with 74,749 spectators.
PUIG MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
The duel started with strong emotions before the 3rd minute was up. Denis Bouanga caressed the first for the visitors, but Jonathan Bond showed a providential hand; and Mark Delgado tried it with a powerful shot from distance for the Galaxy that went over the crossbar.
There were many eyes on Puig and the ex-culé did not disappoint, since he was the best in the first half showing impudence, clear ideas and a lot of spice in attack every time the ball fell at his feet.
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Puig, in fact, was very close to achieving the first for his team coming from the second line but he did not finish the play by centimeters.
Bouanga responded immediately at LAFC with a shot off a cross from Vela that forced a creditable save from Bond, who would retire at half-time due to injury, bringing on Jonathan Klinsmann.
Not even 15 minutes had passed and the chances were piling up for each other in a very entertaining, colorful and intense match.
The first to open the can was the Galaxy thanks to Boyd, who turned around at the peak of the area and invented a beautiful shot with a thread to the far post that John McCarthy could do nothing against.
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Superior in the first half, the Galaxy were on the verge of getting one of the goals of the year with Raheem Edwards, who dribbled past half of the rival team but failed to put the icing on the cake for that great individual foray.
Faced with the good feelings of their opponents, LAFC had a hard time dominating the game and Vela went unnoticed before the break.
The script changed after passing through the changing rooms and LAFC came out with renewed energy and determined to take the helm.
This change in attitude was rewarded, since Sánchez, with a very difficult header at the near post and after a corner, equalized the score for LAFC.
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With the match played on a more tense and abrupt terrain in which there were no shortage of yellow cards, the Galaxy exploited the gaps behind LAFC on the counterattack and thus came Puig’s goal.
Douglas Costa opened the ball with the outside on the left for Boyd, who saw the arrival through the center and at full speed of a Puig who sent the ball into the net just in front of the area where the Galaxy cheer stands were .
LAFC tried to equalize until the end but their lack of aim was too heavy a ballast.
Vela scored a disallowed goal later for offside and Bouanga closed the night denied in front of goal in which he missed countless occasions.
Data sheet
2. LA Galaxy: Bond (Klinsmann, d. 46); Calegari, Mavinga, Leerdam, Edwards (Aude, d. 59); Brugman, Delgado, Puig; Boyd (Aguirre, m. 90), Judd (Joveljic, m. 59), Costa.
Coach: Greg Vanney.
1. LAFC: McCarthy; Duenas, Maldonado, Chiellini, Hollingshead; Sánchez (Bogusz, m. 75), Tillman (Ordaz, m. 91), Acosta (Cifuentes, m. 46); Opoku (Biuk, d. 71), Bouanga, Vela.
Coach: Steve Cherundolo.
Goals: 1-0, m. 26:Boyd; 1-1, m. 57: Sanchez; 2-1, m. 73: Puig.
Referee: Victor Rivas. He booked Edwards, Costa and Aude from the Galaxy and Tillman, Maldonado and Dueñas from LAFC.
Incidents: MLS game played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena before 82,110 spectators, which was a new record for attendance at a game in this league.
