Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored all three goals for the LA Galaxy on Friday evening as they defeated LAFC 3-2 at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson.
After a week of being highly quotable about the state of MLS, and the relative merits of LAFC striker Carlos Vela, Zlatan then backed up his comments and walked the walk by leading the Galaxy to victory.
Vela played his part as well as the former Arsenal and Real Sociedad forward was on target with both goals for LAFC.
However this game was all about Zlatan, even as LAFC took the lead in the fourth minute. Vela coolly placed home from the spot after being felled by Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham.
Four minutes later Zlatan produced another ridiculous highlight strike to draw the teams level. The Swede beat two defenders at the top of the box with a controlled flick and then buried a shot from 20-yards out.
Ten minutes into the second half the hosts took the lead when Zlatan outjumped a defender to power home a cross from Diego Polenta.
Having scored with his right foot and a header, Zlatan then completed a perfect hat trick with a left-foot strike, also from long distance. Vela added a consolation goal late into stoppage time for his 21st of the campaign, but by then the contest was over.
LAFC still leads by nine points over the Galaxy in the Western Conference standings as the latter moved past the Seattle Sounders into second place. The Sounders can retake second over the weekend when they take on the Portland Timbers.
LAFC are at 9/4 to win the MLS Cup this season with LA Galaxy 12/1 and New York City FC 7/1.
Ibrahimovic is 10/3 to be the league's top scorer with Carlos Vela 1/2.
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored all three goals for the LA Galaxy on Friday evening as they defeated LAFC 3-2 at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson.
After a week of being highly quotable about the state of MLS, and the relative merits of LAFC striker Carlos Vela, Zlatan then backed up his comments and walked the walk by leading the Galaxy to victory.
Vela played his part as well as the former Arsenal and Real Sociedad forward was on target with both goals for LAFC.
However this game was all about Zlatan, even as LAFC took the lead in the fourth minute. Vela coolly placed home from the spot after being felled by Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham.
Four minutes later Zlatan produced another ridiculous highlight strike to draw the teams level. The Swede beat two defenders at the top of the box with a controlled flick and then buried a shot from 20-yards out.
Ten minutes into the second half the hosts took the lead when Zlatan outjumped a defender to power home a cross from Diego Polenta.
Having scored with his right foot and a header, Zlatan then completed a perfect hat trick with a left-foot strike, also from long distance. Vela added a consolation goal late into stoppage time for his 21st of the campaign, but by then the contest was over.
LAFC still leads by nine points over the Galaxy in the Western Conference standings as the latter moved past the Seattle Sounders into second place. The Sounders can retake second over the weekend when they take on the Portland Timbers.
LAFC are at 9/4 to win the MLS Cup this season with LA Galaxy 12/1 and New York City FC 7/1.
Ibrahimovic is 10/3 to be the league's top scorer with Carlos Vela 1/2.
View all Soccer lines
Source: bet365.com