LAG Confidential - This is LA. This is El Trafico IV.The Jewel of MLS Blogshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50693/lag-fav.png2019-07-20T19:50:29-07:00http://www.lagconfidential.com/rss/stream/204583412019-07-20T19:50:29-07:002019-07-20T19:50:29-07:00Looks like the LA Galaxy raced Ferraris to celebrate
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<figcaption>Dennis te Kloese</figcaption>
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<p>What tomfoolery is DtK up to</p> <p id="0p8l9A">A picture is worth a thousand words. Also, Dennis te Kloese is a freaking genius.</p>
<p id="OFbRb2">Many Galaxy fans woke up Saturday morning <a href="https://twitter.com/_BrittJo/status/1152672772197244928">in a kind of drunken, hungover slumber</a>, lots of whom were glued to their smartphones until they passed out. Most did not have alcohol, but <em>El Trafico</em> is a hell of a potent experience all the same.</p>
<p id="uzCFJh">It was a <em>long week, </em>especially after capitulating to the Smurfs in excruciating fashion. Now imagine how the players felt.</p>
<p id="8dx5vO">After such a gutsy performance, the team would likely feel entitled to a day off. Enter the <a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> GM, who decided to take things to the next level. <span>Zlatan Ibrahimovic</span> described himself as <em>“A Ferraris among Fiats”</em>, and it seems te Kloese took the metaphor literally by channeling his inner Dominic Toretto.</p>
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</div></a> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B0JfNvfgxPD/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Well deserved day off for the team today. #since96 @lagalaxy @mls ⚽️ #teameffort</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dennistekloese/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Dennis te Kloese</a> (@dennistekloese) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2019-07-20T18:14:40+00:00">Jul 20, 2019 at 11:14am PDT</time></p>
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<p id="SdpzVi">What a brilliant idea, rewarding the players for their individual efforts in the form of a team activity. Hopefully no one crashed.</p>
<p id="KHdlBd">Ok, we may have laid it a little thick on the sarcasm. That being said, it’s nice to see te Kloese establishing himself as the leader of the club.</p>
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2019/7/20/20702403/looks-like-the-la-galaxy-raced-ferraris-to-celebrateMike Gray2019-07-20T18:32:55-07:002019-07-20T18:32:55-07:00The LA Galaxy tifos were refreshing
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<figcaption>Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Celebrate your colors, not yourselves</p> <p id="R20JW5">The new <a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> supporter’s section is set to open in 2020, but if Friday’s atmosphere was any indication a new chapter of supporting the <em>blue white and gold</em> is off to a great start.</p>
<p id="8mNumz">Over the years the Angel City Brigade have been known for simple but effective tifos which get the message across without too much fuzz. (Most of the time, anyways)</p>
<p id="uKm3aM">No indie band references or clever hipster nonsense, just telling the story.</p>
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<p id="aIOXpF">The latest display from the ACB? The words “BLUE WHITE AND GOLD” in giant block lettering with the colors of the Beckham era in the background. Understated elegance. Nothing that would give others the impression you’re trying way too hard, unlike certain clubs I could mention. (And will, those LAFC yahoos <em>try way too hard</em>)</p>
<p id="HGNCMC">Meanwhile across the stadium, the LA Riot Squad were busy reminding our cross-town rivals what trophies actually look like.</p>
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<cite>Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="A3BhOI">Well done all.</p>
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https://www.lagconfidential.com/2019/7/20/20702325/the-la-galaxy-tifos-were-refreshingMike Gray2019-07-20T12:09:41-07:002019-07-20T12:09:41-07:00Jonathan dos Santos is our MVP
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<img alt="Players’ Night Out 2019 Hosted By The Players’ Tribune" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1Rh3ZSrQKY7eew9FaI1sJmqZg-o=/13x7:2119x1411/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64773051/1161112329.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for The Players’ Tribune</figcaption>
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<p id="15zj5i"><em>As Jona goes, so does the midfield.</em></p>
<p id="Qt4yu5">It’s no secret Jonathan dos Santos is instrumental to LA’s success. (It’s no secret Jona is instrumental to El Tri’s success either, btw) His ability to set the tempo with intelligent movement and distribution was the proverbial wrench in the gears of the LAFC attacking machine, shutting down their midfield and limiting the press.</p>
<p id="Cx8aH9">A more underrated component to his game this year? <em>His attitude</em>, his quiet resolve and steely determination to give everything to the crest. Beneath his athletic gifts and technical dexterity lies the attitude of a winner.</p>
<p id="62PIno">While Jona has been motivated in part by a desire to get back into the national team picture, dos Santos has been a quiet leader for the <a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> from Day 1. </p>
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<p lang="es" dir="ltr">Gracias a la afición que se desplazó hasta Dallas. ¡Son los mejores! También pedir perdón por el partido de hoy, Seguiremos trabajando para seguir mejorando! See you next weekend! <a href="https://twitter.com/LAGalaxy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LAGalaxy</a> <a href="https://t.co/HA248cRhrN">pic.twitter.com/HA248cRhrN</a></p>— Jonathan Dos Santos (@jona2santos) <a href="https://twitter.com/jona2santos/status/1104616983985774594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2019</a>
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<p id="neCy6C">When the El Tri international rolled his ankle twenty minutes or so into the first half, dos Santos was undeterred, if slightly limpy. </p>
<p id="T2tVkg">After the match, senior editor Adam Serrano was lucky enough to capture this warm interaction between Jona and his teammates as the pair strolled towards the Angel City Brigade to celebrate. It encapsulates all the mental toughness, heart, resolve and will to succeed of the 29-year old, wrapped up in a neat little package.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A LOT of content from tonight but this one is one of the best for me. <br><br>Jona has come so far in learning how to speak English better and his pure happiness to want to speak it (and put it in his caption) is a cool part of that journey. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElTriEng?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElTriEng</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MexicansAbroad?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MexicansAbroad</a> <a href="https://t.co/B9BUOFjT1c">https://t.co/B9BUOFjT1c</a></p>— Amelia Lopez (@AztecaAmeliaaa) <a href="https://twitter.com/AztecaAmeliaaa/status/1152492538609094657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2019</a>
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<p id="BVy8dj">Despite what happened with his brother Giovani, Jona never had anything to prove to Galaxy fans, but he’s already won their hearts.</p>
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2019/7/20/20701902/jonathan-dos-santos-is-our-mvpMike Gray2019-07-20T09:37:05-07:002019-07-20T09:37:05-07:00Three takeaways from El Trafico IV
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<figcaption>Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="xmwHIN">During the pregame show, ESPN analyst <span>Taylor Twellman</span> suggested the 2019 season could be gone for the LA Galaxy if they were blown out of the park.</p>
<p id="8aRSHZ">Their decisive 3-2 victory (with two very questionable goals for LAFC, btw) over their cross-rivals Friday night may well have the opposite effect. Yes, for better or worse LA were once again reliant on Zlatan to get the job done but Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s squad have a solid foundation to build on as they face a difficult schedule ahead.</p>
<p id="LKekU3">Here are three notable positives from El Trafico IV.</p>
<p id="6DY5R0"><strong>Guillermo Barros Schelotto made the right calls.</strong> The man who managed Boca to two league titles has paced the sidelines in big games before, but Guille would need to get out of his comfort zone and pick the right lineup and tactics if LA were to escape Health Sports Park with their Dignity, much less a result.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">-Julian Araujo's insertion provides extra defensive cover<br><br>-Shuffling another attacker to the bench gives GBS options should LA need to chase the game.<br><br>We like it. <a href="https://t.co/TRS9Y6sz6F">https://t.co/TRS9Y6sz6F</a></p>— LAG Confidential (@LAGConfidential) <a href="https://twitter.com/LAGConfidential/status/1152393668386381824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2019</a>
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<p id="Df0Gc4">In Julian Araujo and <span>Rolf Feltscher</span> you have two aggressive fullbacks capable of contributing in the final third, so why not stick both on the pitch? Inserting Araujo in a winger role gave LA the extra defensive cover they needed to prevent <span>Jordan Harvey</span> from pushing up in attack, and outside of a few moments <span>Diego Rossi</span> had little impact on the match. The decision to stick the experienced Diego Polenta at left back was another gamble that paid off.</p>
<p id="8e0jKC">GBS earned his paycheck that night.</p>
<p id="ksvlry"><strong>Favio Alvarez brought his A game. </strong>It was his sloppy turnover 90 seconds into the match that culminated in a LAFC penalty kick, but the Argentine attacker was a thorn in the Black and Gold throughout the match, finding pockets to distribute the ball around LAFC’s boa constrictor of a midfield. Alvarez was especially adapt at one-touch flicks to Ibra: In addition to his flick that assisted Zlatan’s third strike, the <em>blue white and gold</em> haired attacker had a brilliant dummy earlier that almost resulted in a goal. </p>
<p id="VQWJAk">Alvarez had an astute defensive performance on the night as well, marking the dangerous <span>Eduard Atuesta</span> out of the match and adding cover when needed. </p>
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<p id="1W0FxU"><strong>Pipa Gonzalez’s emergency defending. </strong>When the Costa Rican international is fit, the already improved back line transforms into an elite cohesive unit. <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/07/20/chance-giancarlo-gonzalez-huge-tackle-carlos-vela-box?autoplay=true"><strong>What a tackle.</strong></a></p>
<div id="yAJ4f0"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.mlssoccer.com/iframe-video?brightcove_id=6061857613001&brightcove_player_id=default&brightcove_account_id=5530036774001" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
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<p id="xJTwaN">(This thing should have ended up 3-0, but let’s just say Jair Marrufo had an off night)</p>
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2019/7/20/20701904/three-takeaways-from-el-trafico-ivMike Gray2019-07-20T01:07:01-07:002019-07-20T01:07:01-07:00LAFC player dives, looks foolish
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<figcaption>Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Rough night for the Black and Gold</p> <p id="1hCoOF">In more ways than one, this was an embarrassing night for the Black and Gold.</p>
<p id="OK5BI6">Over an hour before kickoff, the LAFC supporter’s group known as 3252 stormed through the Dignity Health Sports Park concourse to their designated section for the evening. “Stormed” as in, literally. <em>Dressed in camouflage from head to toe</em>, the boisterous clad of cadets were determined to make a scene.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Seen several members of LAFC's 3252 wearing camo apparel. When I asked one supporter why, he said "we want to show that we are invading." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElTrafico?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElTrafico</a> <a href="https://t.co/bRJ9bYSVGr">pic.twitter.com/bRJ9bYSVGr</a></p>— Cesar Hernandez (@cesarhfutbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/cesarhfutbol/status/1152393528216936449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2019</a>
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<p id="m5t87Z"><strong>Narrator’s voice:</strong> <em>They did not invade.</em></p>
<p id="h4H7co">If the shenanigans of St. Bilko’s men were suspect, things weren’t looking much better on the turf. As brilliant as <a href="https://www.angelsonparade.com/">Los Angeles Football Club</a> have played this 2019 MLS season, the team has developed a bit of a reputation for diving and occasional shithousery. </p>
<p id="mBNw0m">Case in point: After Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s left-footed cannon completed a well-deserved hat trick for the <a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> striker, midfielder <span>Latif Blessing</span> got in the way of Ibra and mysteriously lost the use of his legs while simultaneously attempting to clear the high jump. It didn’t go unnoticed. </p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr">✈️ <a href="https://t.co/JAZZWBeR1v">pic.twitter.com/JAZZWBeR1v</a></p>— Stu Holden (@stuholden) <a href="https://twitter.com/stuholden/status/1152429042085191680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2019</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">MANS WENT FLYING <br><br>Do not get in <a href="https://twitter.com/Ibra_official?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ibra_official</a>'s way <a href="https://t.co/gjQUwz4Hkf">pic.twitter.com/gjQUwz4Hkf</a></p>— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) <a href="https://twitter.com/LAGalaxy/status/1152480157321420800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2019</a>
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<p id="zRloOn">Rough night for LA club #2.</p>
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2019/7/20/20701717/lafc-player-dives-looks-foolishMike Gray2019-07-19T21:33:46-07:002019-07-19T21:33:46-07:00LA Galaxy top LAFC 3-2 in thriller
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<img alt="MLS: Los Angeles FC at LA Galaxy" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ta_-ztJr-FgMozYJulxiBSqeH9k=/0x0:1923x1282/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64771389/usa_today_13072091.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>El Trafico IV belongs to the original club from LA</p> <p id="e4VION">Friday night’s <a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> LAFC matchup had all of the usual fireworks and then some, but the story followed a familiar script: An early back-breaker of a <span>Carlos Vela</span> goal followed by a furious comeback.</p>
<p id="S400aH">Led by a <span>Zlatan Ibrahimovic</span> hat trick and capped off with a brilliant team performance, Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s group masterfully halted the LAFC machine as the LA Galaxy bested their cross-town rivals 3-2 to stay undefeated in four El Traficos.</p>
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<p lang="in" dir="ltr"> HAT TRICK ZLATAN. <br><br>BOW DOWN. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAvLAFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LAvLAFC</a> <a href="https://t.co/uCJe4pAwT5">pic.twitter.com/uCJe4pAwT5</a></p>— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) <a href="https://twitter.com/LAGalaxy/status/1152428596104818688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2019</a>
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<p id="lPMgkz">It was early heartbreak for the Galaxy as a lazy turnover from Favio Alvarez resulted in <span>David Bingham</span> needlessly tackling Carlos Vela to the turf, and the El Tri international easily put Bingham the wrong way to gift LA an early lead.</p>
<p id="Sk18Kd">The comeback didn’t take long. Five minutes later Zlatan Ibrahimovic defied time and space to lift a ball over <span>Eduard Atuesta</span> and fire a rocket of a half-volley to draw the match.</p>
<p id="k5z9pd">Usually LA struggle in the second half of matches, but tonight was a different story. In the 56th minute Zlatan was first to a floated cross and beat a slightly hesitant <span>Tyler Miller</span> to nod an easy header into a gaping net.</p>
<p id="uQDTf3">Inconceivably, the Galaxy doubled their advantage when Ibra was left open outside the box and used his left foot to smash a low finish into the bottom right corner. <span>Diego Rossi</span> would hit the post late and Vela secured his brace with moments remaining in the match, but LA would take home all three points.</p>
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2019/7/19/20701610/la-galaxy-top-lafc-3-2-in-thrillerMike Gray2019-07-19T21:18:14-07:002019-07-19T21:18:14-07:00Zlatan Ibrahimovic bags El Trafico hat trick in style
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<figcaption>Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Because Zlatan</p> <p id="mr1Dfg"><span>Zlatan Ibrahimovic</span> shows up for big games.</p>
<p id="6srfvX">You could tell at training this week when the <a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> striker dialed up the personality to maximum volume, and that was before he called out the reigning MVP. You don’t pull those kind of theatrics unless you plan on showing up. Luckily for fans of the original club from Los Angeles, Ibra was up for the challenge.</p>
<p id="I9KX4n">Once Carlos Vela put LAFC ahead in the 3rd minute, it was on.</p>
<div id="S5rSr2"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.mlssoccer.com/iframe-video?brightcove_id=6061857869001&brightcove_player_id=default&brightcove_account_id=5530036774001" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="OTy1N2"><strong>8’ -</strong> Ibra had something up his sleeve, we just didn’t think it would arrive so soon. Collecting the ball off his chest 30 yards from goal, Zlatan lifted over the incoming <span>Eduard Atuesta</span>, paused then smashed a half-volley around the diving <span>Tyler Miller</span>.</p>
<p id="h06R58"><strong>56’ - </strong>Once again Zlatan was first to a floated cross, beating a flat-footed Tyler Miller without too much effort.</p>
<p id="zfCW3h"><strong>70’ -</strong> Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a lion among humans, a Ferrari among Fiats.</p>
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https://www.lagconfidential.com/2019/7/19/20701614/zlatan-ibrahimovic-bags-el-trafico-hat-trick-in-styleMike Gray2019-07-19T19:56:39-07:002019-07-19T19:56:39-07:00MUST WATCH: Zlatan El Trafico golazo
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<p>A Ferrari among Fiats</p> <p id="qJDjab">Roughly 90 seconds into the match, the Galaxy’s worst nightmare unfolded in front of the electric Dignity Health Sports Park atmosphere.</p>
<p id="jW9mKk">Favio Alvarez rushed his service in the <a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> midfield, and Mark Anthony-Kaye collected the loose ball and scampered forward before slotting to <span>Carlos Vela</span>, and <span>David Bingham</span> brought down the current leader in the Golden Boot rankings. Three minutes in, LA are down a goal.</p>
<p id="gQKVUB">The Galaxy looked shocked, but not shellshocked. LA would need to break out of their defensive shape if they were to get back into this match. Luckily, Galaxy fans wouldn’t need to wait 73 minutes this time around to watch the Lion of Los Angeles bag another golazo.</p>
<p id="qDst7g">Collecting the ball off his chest with Atuesta looming down on the big Swede, Ibra lifted the ball over the LAFC midfielder before waiting for the bounce and smashing an outside the boot finish past a leaping <span>Tyler Miller</span>.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?! Zlatan with a bit of absolute magic for the equalizer (via <a href="https://twitter.com/MLS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLS</a>) <a href="https://t.co/6ErRG8W8Go">pic.twitter.com/6ErRG8W8Go</a></p>— Planet Fútbol (@si_soccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/si_soccer/status/1152408242506686465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2019</a>
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<p id="sYRZXI">Take a bow. Again.</p>
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2019/7/19/20701568/must-watch-zlatan-el-trafico-golazoMike Gray