The day was filled with reunions, starting early as LAFC and Galaxy fans, distinguished by their black and white attire respectively, engaged in spirited banter across BMO Stadium two hours before the 22nd clash of their intense MLS rivalry commenced.
LAFC’s former star Gareth Bale, who retired from international football a year ago, returned to face his former club, receiving a warm pregame reception from the 22,000 Black & Gold supporters at BMO Stadium. Bale shared a heartfelt embrace with his longtime friend and current LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, whom he had played with at Tottenham Hotspur for two seasons.
However, the focal point of Saturday’s showdown was the meeting of Major League Soccer’s two Southern California-based teams – comprising fifty players donning black and white kits, representing their respective supporter groups, and harboring fiercely contrasting objectives.
By the final whistle, LAFC (3W-3L-1D) emerged victorious with a 2-1 triumph, propelling the defending Western Conference champions to fifth place in the conference standings, while the Galaxy (3W-1L-3D) suffered their first defeat of 2024 and relinquished their position atop the Supporters’ Shield race.
The scoring unfolded in familiar fashion, mirroring the start of three of LAFC’s seven games this season, as midfielder Timmy Tillman capitalized on an early opportunity. Tillman’s breakthrough came from a corner kick that deflected off the head of LAFC captain Ilie Sánchez.
“Set pieces are crucial in every game, whether to open up play or defensively,” remarked Tillman. “I was just in the right place at the right time, and I’m grateful to have helped the team.”
Following a 29th-minute equalizer, LAFC regained their attacking momentum, resulting in a contentious penalty call that Denis Bouanga converted.
Bouanga’s successful conversion past former LAFC goalkeeper John McCarthy marked his eighth consecutive penalty goal since joining LAFC in 2022. Amidst several minutes of VAR review and on-field negotiations, Bouanga confidently placed the ball at the spot before slotting it home, securing his third goal of the season.
“I wasn’t nervous at all, despite the comments from John [McCarthy] and others,” Bouanga stated confidently, reflecting on his penalty-taking sessions with McCarthy during their time as teammates over the past two seasons. “I knew exactly where I wanted to place my shot, so I executed it with confidence.”
The halftime score remained 2-1, marking the third consecutive half in which LAFC had outscored the Galaxy two goals to one. This mirrored their previous encounter in September 2023, where LAFC secured a 4-2 victory by scoring twice in each half while conceding once.
Heading into the second half, the Black & Gold’s objective was to maintain control of the game, unlike their previous outing in Colorado where they squandered a 2-1 lead to suffer a 3-2 defeat. “At halftime, Steve [Cherundolo] didn’t really address it,” Tillman revealed.
“But once we stepped onto the pitch and gathered in our usual circle before the second-half kickoff, we discussed it – we knew the feeling and how disappointing it was, so we were determined not to let it happen again. That’s why we kept fighting in the second half.”
“We were aware that we couldn’t afford to repeat what happened in Colorado,” added defender Sergi Palencia. “Throughout the week, we analyzed film, identified our mistakes, learned from them, and came into this game with a determination to avoid repeating them and to perform better.”
The enthusiastic crowd at BMO Stadium played a significant role in supporting LAFC’s efforts. The team’s 3252 supporters’ union displayed a massive tifo before kickoff, drawing inspiration from L.A. graffiti culture with a theme of unity. LAFC’s players remained cohesive throughout the last 45 minutes, generating more and higher-quality scoring opportunities while limiting the visitors to just one shot on goal (and only four shots in total) for the entire game. Despite the Galaxy dominating possession, LAFC’s aggressive counter-pressing strategy helped them win the expected goals battle, 3.4 to 1.4, while their defense thwarted numerous attacking attempts with interceptions and blocked shots.
“We had to endure some challenges,” Tillman remarked, “but that’s what we discussed before the match. We knew there would be tough moments, and today we embraced that, continued to defend, and worked tirelessly off the ball, which ultimately helped us secure the victory.”
“We see ourselves as warriors,” Palencia chimed in during the postgame press conference alongside center back Jesús Murillo. “We thrive in these types of matches… We feel the crowd’s presence strongly, relishing in blocking shots, making tackles… This was an ideal night for a defender.”
LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo acknowledged the Galaxy as a formidable team, particularly in possession. Despite their opponent’s strengths, LAFC felt comfortable defending against their attacks, limiting them to long-range shots and set pieces.
These Southern California derbies are typically physical encounters, and Saturday’s match was no exception, characterized by 27 fouls (20 committed by the home team) and four yellow cards (all issued to LAFC). Palencia and his teammates aimed to close down spaces and apply pressure, making it challenging for the Galaxy to settle into their rhythm.
“Fouls aren’t always detrimental,” Cherundolo added. “I’d rather concede a foul than allow players like Riqui Puig to dictate play through the midfield. It’s not about targeting specific players, but maintaining physicality against teams like the Galaxy is crucial.”
“We’re disappointed with our inability to seal the game,” Cherundolo expressed. “There were clear opportunities to go up 3-1 in the second half, and capitalizing on those chances would have made closing out the game much simpler.”
The highly anticipated match on Saturday featured two teams that had undergone significant roster changes in the offseason. LAFC fielded six players who had started the previous encounter between the two teams in September 2023, while the Galaxy had only five players from that match in the starting lineup.
Despite the roster turnover, the intensity on the field and each team’s determination to compete fiercely remained unchanged. With both sides now tied at 47 goals apiece in their series, which began when LAFC joined the league in 2018, the overall record for LAFC in the derby stands at 8 wins, 9 losses, and 3 draws. A victory for LAFC in the rematch on July 4 at the Rose Bowl would level the series for the first time in nearly four years.
However, before facing off in Pasadena again, both teams have other matches to focus on, including LAFC’s away game in Portland this weekend, where they aim to secure their first road win of 2024. Additionally, LAFC has a home match the following Saturday against the New York Red Bulls, who are currently leading the Supporters’ Shield race.
Reflecting on the significance of derby victories, Bouanga recalled a comment made by Lloris on Friday about how such wins can propel teams to greater heights. “Hugo was absolutely right,” Bouanga remarked in French. “This victory was crucial for the team. We’ll build on this momentum and carry it into the next games.”
