It's been about a year since Zlatan Ibrahimovic debuted in MLS with two dramatic goals to help the LA Galaxy top new cross-town rivals LAFC. Despite the Galaxy's horrid defense, Zlatan kept the team in the playoff race for much of the campaign. He ended the season with 22 goals and 10 assists in just 27 matches. That was with avoiding turf and recovering from the injury he arrived in the U.S. with.
Back in 2001, Major League Soccer almost folded. After six seasons, millions of dollars in operating losses and with two clubs on the verge of contraction (the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion), the league was really only kept afloat by the vision of Lamar Hunt (who owned the Columbus Crew, Kansas City Wizards and Dallas Burn in his lifetime).
After missing two matches due to an Achilles tendon problem, Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned to action on Sunday and scored a brace of penalties in the LA Galaxy’s 2-1 victory over the Portland Timbers at Dignity Health Sports Park.
But the highlight of the night might’ve been an early attempt from Ibrahimovic that struck the base of the post. Using his right leg like the taekwondo expert he is, the 37-year-old flicked this effort on frame in the 14th minute only to be denied by the woodwork.
If I’m James Corden, I’m watching my back like a paranoid mafioso. This prank he pulled on David Beckham is absolutely brutal, and there’s no way Beckham’s not going to retaliate in some fashion.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic loves to boast and has no lack of self-confidence. His league titles around Europe and amazing goals have placed him in the top echelon of players over the past decade. Even in MLS, Zlatan has already created several memorable moments, including his come-from-behind-victory brace against LAFC on his debut. But this time Zlatan has probably overestimated himself.
A big storyline from Major League Soccer’s opening weekend was the debut of 16-year-old LA Galaxy phenom Efrain Alvarez. The Los Angeles native was an academy product before becoming a revelation in the USL last year, scoring 12 goals and adding three assists in 17 appearances for the club’s reserve team, LA Galaxy II.
Back on Jan. 23, it was revealed that Landon Donovan would again come out retirement to play professional soccer, this time for the San Diego Sockers of the Major Arena Soccer League. The 36-year-old will make $250,000 during his stay, and fans got their first look at the American legend on Friday.
The LA Galaxy unveiled its away jersey for the 2019 MLS season on Sunday night at an event in downtown LA, where thousands of Galaxy fans turned out to see the latest threads and Zlatan Ibrahimović.
After missing the playoffs for the second straight campaign in 2018, there’s cautious optimism for the Galaxy in 2019 with Zlatan announcing his return to go along with the appointment of former Boca Juniors boss Guillermo Barros Schelotto as manager.
Ashley Cole has completed another first in his 20-year career: his first FA Cup goal.
The 38-year-old recently signed for Frank Lampard’s Derby County from MLS and made his debut in it’s fifth-round FA Cup tie with Brighton & Hove Albion.
After going down 2-0 to the host, Derby County pressed for a response in the second half. After a ball over the top caused a scramble in the box, a poor clearance by Daniel Burn fell kindly to Cole’s head.
Very rarely do you see European soccer teams playing on turf.
Still some teams that have played in the Champions and Europa Leagues this season play on turf, including Young Boys in Switzerland and Nordsjaelland in Denmark. Still, turf isn’t really a commonplace surface for professional matches in Europe.