LA Galaxy 4, Orlando City SC 3 | 2018 MLS Match Recap

Dylan Butler

Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck for his first MLS hat trick to lead the LA Galaxy to a wild 4-3 win over Orlando City SC Sunday at StubHub Center.

Ibrahimovic scored all three of his goals after halftime as the Galaxy (10-7-5) erased a 2-1 halftime deficit. He leveled at 2-2 three minutes into the second half, rising up to meet a chipped in cross by Gio dos Santos and heading in his 13th goal of the season.

Dom Dwyer gave Orlando (7-14-1) a third lead seven minutes later with a headed goal of his own after an inch-perfect cross by Mohamed El-Munir.

Ibrahimovic had his brace in the 67th minute with a diving header to level the match for the third time and then put the Galaxy in front for the first time four minutes later, ripping off his jersey to celebrate his first MLS hat trick.

Goals

18’ — ORL — Cristian Higuita | WATCH
39’ — LA — Giovani dos Santos | WATCH
44’ — ORL — Michael Ciani (OG) | WATCH
47’ — LA — Zlatan Ibrahimovic | WATCH
54’ — ORL — Dom Dwyer | WATCH
67’ — LA — Zlatan Ibrahimovic | WATCH
71’ — LA — Zlatan Ibrahimovic | WATCH

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: In a scintillating display of attacking soccer, the LA Galaxy stretched their unbeaten streak to nine matches in the seven-goal thriller and moved within a point of second-place LAFC in the Western Conference. The Lions, meanwhile, suffered an eighth consecutive road defeat and their 12th in the last 13 games.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH
: So many to choose from in an open, attacking match, but it’s got to be Zlatan’s game-winner.

Score the hat trick, throw the shirt.

GO ON, @Ibra_official! pic.twitter.com/0XYAcI8fC5
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) July 30, 2018

MAN OF THE MATCH: Yeah, no surprise. Ibrahimovic netted the first LA Galaxy hat trick since Robbie Keane in July, 2015 and with 15 goals has moved ahead of Bradley Wright-Phillips into second in the Golden Boot race.