July 4, 2023; Los Angeles, California, United States; LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig (6) celebrates with fans after the game against LAFC at the Rose Bowl. Credit required: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
PASADENA, California – Fireworks over the Rose Bowl have always been a perfect backdrop.
A highly anticipated game originally slated to be an epic opener to the major league soccer season at the Rose Bowl has had to be postponed due to terrible weather in Southern California.
What transpired from February through July 4 gave LA Galaxy and LAFC the perfect opportunity to renew their rivalry in front of a new MLS record 82,110 fans. And Riqui Puig made sure the spectacle was worthy of the setting as the original Los Angeles team beat LAFC 2-1.
It should never have been close on paper – LAFC are the reigning MLS Cup champions and Supporters’ Shield winners, while the Galaxy sit at the bottom of the table. But El Trafico always mean more, regardless of the current form or other factors surrounding the teams. It was obvious that the Galaxy wanted to set a precedent for what was technically a home game for them, in a stadium where the OG teams of the late 1990s actually played. Aside from a really good chance from LAFC top scorer Denis Bouanga in the 16th minute, the first 45 minutes belonged to the hosts.
Puig, as is usually the case, was superior to everyone else on the field. His magic and pace were on full display in a game attended by the Spaniard’s family. It paid off in the 26th minute as one of his dangerous runs cleared space and he set up Tyler Boyd, who saved a defender and fired a ball from the edge of the area to open the scoring.
Galaxy continued to dictate the flow of play and could probably have scored another goal, but the lack of finish that has plagued them all year made itself felt again.
Goalkeeper Jonathan Bond had to be replaced at the break by injury for Jonathan Klinsmann and the second half was very different as LAFC increased the pressure and kept the Galaxy in their own team.
LAFC’s Timothy Tillman put the ball just wide of the post from a corner and Ilie Sánchez was there to head the equalizer in the 57th minute.
But this night would always belong to the galaxy. It just felt like fate. And Puig was rewarded for his sensational performance with a goal of his own, sparked by a beautiful crossfield ball from Douglas Costa to Boyd, who returned the favor with an assist of his own.
Carlos Vela thought he had leveled the game in the 84th minute but was slightly offside. The low roar of LAFC fans was drowned out by “LA Galaxy” chants that grew louder into the night.
Blue and yellow smoke followed, billowing through the Pasadena air.
These games. That rivalry.
LAFC are clearly the better side at the moment, but Los Angeles belonged to one team at a historic moment for MLS and soccer in the United States.
Fittingly, it was the LA Galaxy.