LA Galaxy 4-3 Los Angeles FC: Zlatan scores a 40-yard volley on his debut then nets winner in injury time

Zlatan
Zlatan made huge news this week when he signed for Galaxy

LA, welcome to Zlatan!

Well, Zlatan Ibrahimovic's debut for LA Galaxy was always going to amass huge mainstream attention - as the Swede commands wherever he goes, and his MLS debut was no different.

In what's been a tumultuous start to the season for LA Galaxy, living in the shadow of their neighbours LA Football Club - who only had their first competitive match three weeks ago - Zlatan's signing was the biggest news the club has had since the signing of David Beckham in 2007.

When the Swede started on the bench, anticipation was at an all-time high. When ex Arsenal striker Carlos Vela put LA FC 2-0 up within 25 minutes, even more so. And with an own goal from Steres putting LA Galaxy 3-0 down just after extra time - well, the pressure an expectation on the Swede who was always going to come off the bench was immense.

Chants of "We want Zlatan" rang around the arena and a huge roar went up every time the former Manchester United and Barcelona man warmed up... But the crowd were left waiting to see the legendary striker make his debut.

Lletget pulled one back for Galaxy shortly before Zlatan arrived to make his memorable start, but at 3-1 with 20 minutes left, it was still always going to be an uphill task - but Ibrahimovic thrives under pressure.

Well, the man from Rosengard made an immediate impact when he came on, drawing out defenders and giving the team and the entire crowd a lift. Chris Pontius reduced the deficit to one goal before Zlatan did the most Zlatan thing possible...

That's right. He scored a 40-yard volley on his debut to bring the Galaxy back to 3-3 at home in the first ever Los Angeles derby.

And, well, as if that wasn't enough... Three minutes of injury time, 92 minutes gone - enter Zlatan.

The Swede scored a header with almost the last action of the game to deliver Los Angeles Football Club's first loss in their short history after an unbeaten start to MLS, and to introduce himself formally to the LA Galaxy crowd - not that they didn't already know who he is.

Los Angeles, Welcome to Zlatan.

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Edited by Kishan Prasad
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