The essence of soccer can be explained through the first two sagas of El Tráfico.
There are three ways to win a soccer game:
1. Systematically outplay the other team
LAFC ripped the LA Galaxy apart for the first 50 minutes in the first matchup between the teams. The Black-and-Gold passed through the city’s elder statesman and pressed them into turnovers in the rare moments the Galaxy got possession. Bob Bradley’s group went up 3-0 inside an hour.
It may have looked like you hit the repeat button when the team’s played a second time. LAFC jumped on top of the Galaxy, going up 2-0 after 20 minutes. You can get a glimpse of LAFC’s control of the game if we look at the shots and successful pass charts through the opening segment of game – LAFC on the left and Galaxy on the right.
LAFC (left), Galaxy (right) | Information via Opta
More indications, from the action areas from the first 15 minutes:
Information via Opta
2. Win “the moments” – i.e., execute the key plays & avoid crucial errors
As you know, neither of the first two games ended as they began. The first game flipped on a mistake. LAFC tried to play out of the back and Benny Feilhaber got stripped. Sebastian Lletget scored two touches later. And you’ve seen what came next.
You couldn’t find a better play to describe a “moment of magic.” Zlatan Ibrahimovic banged a volley home from somewhere down the 405. There’s very little you can do to plan for or against it. If you have someone – or multiple players in the Galaxy’s case – who can do something like that, you have a chance to win any game.
3. Get lucky
After LAFC controlled most of El Tráfico II, it looked like they would get a deserved win. But in the 86th minute, new LAFC midfielder Andre Horta tried to play a pass to his goalkeeper from midfield and Ola Kamara picked it off for a goal. It was a fluke of a play, beyond what you could describe as a mistake. (Of course it was a mistake, but misplacing a touch on a give and go is a “mistake,” passing the ball to an opponent for a breakaway is an anomaly. The Galaxy would feel fortunate for that). LAFC’s superiority was undone.
LAFC have been the better team. They have showed it in their games with the Galaxy as well as throughout the season in general. It’s not a question. You can’t watch the teams and not find LAFC to be the better team. Yet they’re the side without a win in the SoCal derby. And there’s justice in that, as well.
The Galaxy have something you rarely find. They have an intangible attribute that gives them a chance to win any game they play in. It’s infuriating at times, but it’s also a part of the sport we all chose to love.
Single moments can win games. The Galaxy, via Zlatan, Alessandrini, Gio, Cole, and even Chris Pontius this year, are capable of a ridiculous moment at any time.
LAFC are the better team. But I’m not sure that bothers the Galaxy one bit.
