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Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues to roll.
The most expensive player in the league lived up to the billing once again, notching a first half brace as the LA Galaxy defeated the Philadelphia Union for their fourth straight victory.
New signing Giancarlo Gonzalez was unable to dress due to paperwork issues, but Diego Polenta returned to the lineup.
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The blue white and gold looked comfortable in the opening half hour, at one point executing a mesmerizing passing sequence in the middle of the park to appreciative applause.
Yet it has been the Galaxy’s aerial ability which has proved successful for LA so far this season, and it would be Ibra skying over a helpless Auston Trusty to bang home a looping Jorgen Skjelvic cross. Less than ten minutes later Zlatan was upended inside the box, and after a lengthy delay the penalty kick was awarded and Ibra slotted home for his 6th goal of the year.
Philly rarely threatened after influential playmaker Marco Fabian was taken off with a potential ankle injury, and when Trusty was sent off in the 76th minute the match was all but done.
Next up: Revenge vs. a high flying Houston Dynamo.