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Rivalry games are key to the popularity of Major League Soccer, and Saturday's "El Tráfico" between the LA Galaxy and host Los Angeles FC didn't disappoint in the slightest.
The two Southern California sides played an up-and-down, high-scoring match that ended in a 3-3 draw at Banc of California Stadium.
Brian Rodríguez scored two goals for LAFC (6-9-6, 24 points) and newcomer Dejan Joveljić scored twice for the Galaxy (11-8-3, 36 points) in just his fourth game with the club.
⚡️ LIGHTNING STRIKES AT THE BANC. ⚡️#LAFCvLA 2-1 pic.twitter.com/2MIoYfIHlb
— LAFC (@LAFC) August 29, 2021
The @SanManuelCasino Thrill of the Match: @Brodriguez_16 dismantles the defense. #LAFC pic.twitter.com/zFJhn4oqzX
— LAFC (@LAFC) August 29, 2021
LAFC was ahead 3-2 in the late minutes of the second half, but Kévin Cabral put in a shot off a sliding LAFC defender in the 86th minute to tie the score.
WE'RE ALL TIED UP!
WHAT A FINISH BY KEVIN CABRAL! pic.twitter.com/qV98m75Ao0— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) August 29, 2021
Neither team could break the deadlock before the final whistle.
Joveljić opened the scoring with a chip into an open net in the 20th minute after LAFC couldn't clear a loose ball in the box.
HE'S A IN THE BOX
DEJAN JOVELJIC puts ahead early in #LAFCvLA pic.twitter.com/lfdJaAvo5R— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) August 28, 2021
In the 43rd minute, a foul in the box on the Galaxy gave the home side a penalty kick, and Cristian Arango buried it despite the ball glancing off a post.
El primero de muchos. #LAFCvLA pic.twitter.com/XmWBUj8VHO
— LAFC (@LAFC) August 28, 2021
The action picked up in the second half, and right away. Jonathan Bond tipped an LAFC shot over the net for a save in the 46th minute, but that was a precursor of things to come. On the other end, LAFC goalie Tomas Romero came up with a save of a Cabral header in the 52nd minute.
The 58th minute saw two tremendous saves from Bond, but the ball came to Rodríguez, who dribbled his way around and past two defenders before his shot from the side of the net found the back of it for a 2-1 LAFC lead.
The Galaxy tied it at two with Joveljić's second goal, this one in the 64th minute. It prompted a celebration with Galaxy fans in attendance.
This match is always INSANE.
Dejan Joveljić with the finish from close range to get his second of the afternoon. pic.twitter.com/JRVKIgooOG— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) August 29, 2021
Rodríguez put LAFC in front again, putting in the rebound off a saved shot in the 66th minute, two minutes after the Galaxy had drawn even.
ELECTRIZANTE #LAFCvLA 3-2 pic.twitter.com/asrmIk4HYn
— LAFC (@LAFC) August 29, 2021
