Dignity Health Sports Park, the home of the LA Galaxy, looked and sounded like it got a new tenant on Sunday: the Galaxy’s crosstown rivals LAFC.
LAFC fans took over swaths of their rival’s stadium in El Tráfico, a game that fully displayed the gulf between the two teams on and off the pitch.
For the first time in its history LAFC won a game at its rival’s home ground, as a Carlos Vela double helped the visitors to a 3-2 win.
For LAFC, the result continued an undefeated start to the MLS season that has also seen the club reach the CONCACAF Champions League semifinal.
Conversely, the Galaxy are still looking for their first win and continue to be roiled by fan protests against president Chris Klein and technical director Jovan Kirovski.
That discontent was on display high above the stadium on Sunday.
Someone rented a plane to demonstrate against Chris Klein and Jovan Kirovski. #LAGalaxy fans have asked for president Klein to step down all season. pic.twitter.com/VJRRGHtTT2
— Manuel Veth (@ManuelVeth) April 16, 2023
Inside the stadium, the upper sections were successfully commandeered by huge numbers of away fans.
This is elite support. @LAFC pic.twitter.com/m0sbbQNrgj
— Maximiliano Bretos (@MaxBretosSports) April 16, 2023
“It’s definitely a gift for the fans,” said LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo after the game. “3252 [LAFC’s supporters group] and the rest of our community, family at LAFC has done such amazing work over the first five seasons, and this has been a long time coming.”
In a season full of lows, this one had to sting the most for the Galaxy.
Every stadium feels like home. @LAFC3252 🔊 pic.twitter.com/mhfGBKfVPw
— LAFC (@LAFC) April 16, 2023
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