Starless Night: LA Galaxy 2, LAFC 6

Following a disappointing debut in the MLS Is Back Tournament in Orlando on Monday, the LA Galaxy came out of the locker room energized for their El Trafico matchup with LAFC on Saturday, despite the fact that their star striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez was a late scratch.

Unfortunately, not even their most inspired play was enough for the Galaxy to get a point against a talented LAFC team, and they lost 6-2 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. LAFC’s six goals are the most by any team in El Trafico history.

The first half was full of action for both sides, with the Galaxy and LAFC netting two goals apiece. Technically speaking, LAFC scored three goals, but one of them was in their own net.

The Galaxy actually looked like they were in control in the first half, and they nearly went into halftime with a 2-1 lead, thanks in no small part to some strict refereeing on the goal line and an impressive first half from the Galaxy’s midfield. But with less than two minutes before the halftime whistle, Diego Rossi proved that his first goal was no fluke and placed one in the bottom corner.

From then on, LAFC were in the driver’s seat, and Rossi was at the wheel, scoring another two goals in the second half. Rossi now holds the record for most goals by one player in El Trafico history, followed by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored a hat trick against LAFC last year.

LAFC ended the game with 58.3% possession and 12 shots on target. The Galaxy had just three shots on target.

The Galaxy aren’t out of the tournament just yet, but they need everything to go their way on Thursday, and they’ll be without Chicharito once again. If Saturday’s game is any indication of the type of effort the Galaxy are going to display through 90 minutes, they might be better off in sunny Los Angeles, CA.