U.S. Open Cup: LA Galaxy emerge victorious from ‘El Tráfico’ with 2-0 win over arch
That’s how you silence your rival! LA Galaxy’s Riqui Puig and Tyler Boyd score two sensational goals to seal 2-0 win over enemy LAFC in El Trafico and reach the US Open Cup quarterfinals
- Ex-Barcelona midfielder Riqui Puig made amends for a first-half penalty miss
- The Galaxy will either face the Colorado Rapids or Real Salt Lake in the quarters
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
The Los Angeles Galaxy have come out victorious in the first ‘El Trafico’ of the year after defeating arch rivals LAFC in a 2-0 win in the Round of 16 of the U.S. Open Cup.
Two second-half goals in quick succession from New-Zealand born U.S. forward Tyler Boyd and Spanish midfielder Riqui Puig sealed a surprise and much-needed victory for the Galaxy as the team forgot about its current MLS standings for a night.
Decorated as one of the most successful North American clubs with a record five MLS Cups and four additional appearances in the final, the Galaxy’s currently stuck as the last seed of the Western Conference with two wins, three draws and eight losses in 13 matches played this season.
Signed in the summer from F.C. Barcelona, Puig made amends for a first-half penalty kick saved by LAFC goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic with a remarkable solo effort through the LAFC defense that doubled the Galaxy’s lead in the 52nd minute.
That came only three minutes (49′) after second-half substitute Tyler Boyd broke the stalemate with a stunning left-footed blast after cutting into the box from the right side of the pitch.
US forward Tyler Boyd broke the stalemate with a stunning left-footed blast in the 49th minute
The Galaxy will now go on to either face the Colorado Rapids, to who they lost to 3-1 during a regular season fixture earlier in May, or Real Salt Lake, who they’ll face later on in an MLS Game this month on May 31.
On the other hand, LAFC will now fully focus on its league standings.
The club is top of the Western Conference, having won seven, drawn four, a lost one in 12 matches played.
Boyd celebrates with forward Javier Hernandez as the Galaxy took the lead in the LA derby
Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig added a second goal, only three minutes after Boyd’s strike
LAFC also currently leading in terms of the number of goals against (10).
Both L.A. teams will meet again in a regular-season fixture, the first ‘El Trafico’ of the new MLS season, on July 4 – America’s Independence Day.
Originally scheduled to be played in February, the match had been postponed after bad weather and forecast thunderstorms in the Los Angeles area prompted safety concerns.
The derby match was supposed to serve as the season opener for both clubs.
It was expected to draw an MLS-record 75,000 fans to the Rose Bowl.