LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC fans clash in first derby at new £265m stadium

IT IS derby day and a police helicopter circles above the stadium as down below a tannoy asks rival fans to stop throwing objects on to the pitch.

But this is not London, Liverpool, Glasgow or Manchester, it is LA.

Yes SunSport is delighted to announce the MLS finally has a derby worthy of the name after watching new boys Los Angeles FC host rivals LA Galaxy last night.

Los Angeles FC only joined the MLS this season and this was the first LA derby at their £265million Banc of California Stadium.

The 22,000-capacity arena is in the heart of downtown LA, right next door to the Coliseum which hosted the 1932 and 1984 Olympics and is set to be redeveloped as the venue for the 2026 Games.

The Banc of California Stadium has far less grandeur and is purpose-built for football or 'soccer'.

Unlike other MLS venues it is not located in an out-of-town retail park.
This gives it the feel of a British football stadium, complete with traffic jams on all surrounding routes, already earning the LA derby the title on social media of 'El Trafico'.

But the atmosphere at the game was undoubtedly more British than Barcelona.

Former Galaxy star David Beckham, who is about to set up his own MLS franchise in Miami, will be delighted to learn LAFC have wasted no time building a team, a stadium, a fanbase and, incredibly, an identity.

While Galaxy have the bigger names, gates and star billing, LA, despite being owned by Hollywood glitterati including actor Will Farrell, have positioned themselves as the club for the people.

And with rows of makeshift tents housing thousands of homeless lining the nearby freeways, there is no danger of anybody at this new club getting pretentious.

In contrast to the Galaxy’s white kit, LA FC’s colours are black, which their fans revel in wearing, especially their ultras who call themselves ‘The 3252 Ultras’.
This is because the North Stand they occupy behind one of the goals has a seating or safe-standing capacity of 3,252.

This area was full and rocking an hour before kick-off and no wonder with tickets costing just £15 each and beer at £3 a pint.

The few thousand Galaxy fans who had made the short trip across the city were housed at the opposite end.

This produced a genuinely raucous derby atmosphere never seen before in the MLS, where most ‘local’ clashes involve a two-hour flight.

But LA already has a blossoming footballing rivalry, which only intensified after former Arsenal man Carlos Vela headed the hosts into a seventh minute lead.

With no fans’ segregation, tempers just about stayed in check as the men in black goaded their rivals.

The LAPD chopper was still circling over overhead when Lee Nguyen curled in a free kick to put the home side 2-0 up in the 20th minute.

LA, managed by former failed Swansea boss Bob Bradley, seemed on course for victory.

But his opposite number Siegfried Schmid turned this game on its head by taking off his skipper Ashley Cole - who for once looked his 37 years - midway through the second half.

This gave Galaxy more energy and French midfielder Romain Alessandrini pulled one back for them when he controlled Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s cross and slotted home in the 82nd minute.

Ola Kamara then wasted a great chance to level when his point-blank shot was blocked by keeper Tyler Miller.

But Kamara made amends by rounding Miller to equalise in the 87th minute after Andre Horta’s horror 80-yard back pass.

The goal hero was pelted with beer cups as he ran to the corner to celebrate with the visiting fans.

Yes a proper derby!

There was still time for Horta to hit a post with a 30-yard screamer before the final whistle.

It was even like a derby back home afterwards when Cole refused to talk to British reporters.

But the former England left-back did speak to Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne, who was at the game.

Football fans planning their next trip would be wise to follow in the Belgian’s footsteps and get themselves out here to the Banc of California Stadium for this fixture next season.