The first goal was unbelievable: a volley from some 40 feet out that zigzagged into the back of the net.
The second won the game.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice in his MLS debut, making the inaugural L.A. derby a game to remember. His entrance into the match Saturday lifted the Galaxy over LAFC, 4-3, making it the second club in MLS history to win a match after falling behind by three goals.
Ibrahimovic heard the fans chanting “We want Zlatan,” he told Fox after the game.
“I gave them Zlatan,” he said.
Ibrahimovic came on for Sebastian Lletget, who scored the Galaxy’s first goal of the night in the 71st minute. Just six minutes later, with the Galaxy down 3-2, Ibrahimovic hammered home his first MLS goal over the head of LAFC goalkeeper Tyler Miller.
He wasn’t done there.
Ibrahimovic headed a cross from Ashley Cole into the goal for the game-winner going up against three LAFC players in the first minute of stoppage time.
Flops galore
The league announced before play opened Friday that the disciplinary committee had found three players from different teams guilty of simulation or embellishment. All three were issued undisclosed fines.
Red Bulls defender Tyler Adams’ flop was the most obvious of the three. Adams launched himself sideways into RSL captain Kyle Beckerman and fell to the ground mid-dribble in the 17th minute of the Red Bulls’ game at Rio Tinto Stadium two weeks ago. He threw his hands up asking for a call.
Dallas defender Reto Ziegler and Seattle defender Kelvin Leerdam went up for a header the same weekend, and Leerdam’s right hand seemed to lightly hit Ziegler in the back of the head. Ziegler dropped to the turf immediately, clutching the back of his head with both hands.
Rapids defender Edgar Castillo dived after light contact with SKC forward Gerso Fernandes in a match between Colorado and Kansas City on March 24.
Dom Dwyer returns
Orlando City SC forward Dom Dwyer scored two goals Saturday in his first match back from a quad injury.
The 26th- and 48th-minute goals boosted Orlando to its first win of the season, 4-3 over the New York Red Bulls.
MLS power rankings
1. New York City FC (last week: 1) • NYCFC claimed its fourth win of the season to lead the league in wins and points.
2. Toronto FC (3) • Toronto finally claimed its first league win, turning in a dominant performance against RSL.
3. Columbus Crew SC (2) • The Crew suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of Kei Kamara and the Vancouver Whitecaps.
4. Atlanta United (5) • Atlanta proved it could win on the road, putting the season-opening rout at Houston behind it, with a 1-0 victory at Minnesota.
5. New York Red Bulls (4) • The Red Bulls had the misfortune of facing Dom Dwyer in his first match back, and they blew an early 1-0 lead over Orlando as Dwyer scored a brace.
6. LA Galaxy (unranked) • Two words: Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
7. Los Angeles FC (6) • LAFC dominated the first half against the Galaxy but then conceded four unanswered goals in the second half.
8. Sporting Kansas City (9) • SKC kept a clean sheet against D.C. after starting the season with a high-powered offense but struggling defense.
9. Houston Dynamo (7) • New England shut out Houston at BBVA Compass Stadium after the Dynamo went down to 10 men in the 35th minute.
10. Vancouver Whitecaps (unranked) • The Whitecaps replace Seattle as the non-Los Angeles West Coast team in the top 10, beating a strong Columbus team on its home turf.
