History of EL TRÁFICO

EL TRÁFICO has a short, yet exhilarating history. Los Angeles now has two professional soccer teams in the MLS. One team has an extensive history of legends and championships. The other team has an intense fire and eagerness to prove themselves. The LA Galaxy have seven Western conference titles, five MLS Cups and a CONCACAF Champions Cup. LAFC have only been around for one season, although they made some noise last year by making the MLS Cup playoffs. LAFC has had the most recent success. Interestingly enough they still can’t beat big brother Galaxy in a head to head.

The hyped up home crowd at the Stubhub center. Photo by © Flickr user Ricardo Diaz.

The two LA soccer clubs have played five matches, with LA Galaxy winning two and the other three being draws. LA Galaxy has scored 13 goals on LAFC with Zlatan leading the way with eight. Do not mess with the Zlatan! In the most recent game the two squads tied 3-3. LAFC is currently in first place in the Western conference, but they can’t figure out how to beat the LA Galaxy. LA Galaxy is in the playoff hunt however as of right now they would not be in the playoffs. LA Galaxy may be clinging to playoff life, nonetheless they have the secret Coca-Cola like ingredient to defeat or at least tie the Western conference leaders.

La Galaxy goal at 0:18. LAFC goal at 1:02. LA Galaxy goal at 1:30. LA Galaxy goal at 2:06. LAFC goal at 2:41. LAFC goal at 3:08.

When these two clubs play each other, LA Galaxy takes advantage of their scoring opportunities while playing a brilliant counter attack game with Ibrahimovic up top making plays left and right. LAFC is inconsistent against LA Galaxy, and they do not take advantage of the sloppy mistakes that LA Galaxy tend to make on the defensive side of the field. The younger LA soccer club simply does not play their usual brand of soccer in these games, and they seem rattled.

Quick look at little brother LAFC on the left and big brother LA Galaxy on the right. You cannot use your hands LAFC! Photo by Victoria Borodinova from Pexels

The thought that LAFC cannot beat LA Galaxy is well known in the LA Galaxy locker room. “Yeah, I think we definitely feel that way,” US men’s national team midfielder Sebastian Lleget  said in an interview with MLS.com. “At least we like to think that. I think we go into the game thinking we already have an advantage. You know, that mental edge. And that’s kind of our style.” Maybe one day LAFC will pull it off, but it’s not today. I wonder; can LAFC beat the LA Galaxy if they meet in the MLS playoffs?

Soccer is simple, but it is difficult to play simple.

— Dutch soccer legend Johan Kruif