Ziatan Ibrahimovic felt the love from Vancouver soccer fans on Friday night.
Ibrahimovic was feted at B.C. Place Stadium after leading the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 2-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps. One would have thought he played for the home side as fans shouted "Ibrah! Ibrah" and sought his autograph.
The 37-year-old Swedish icon scored a goal and added an assist as the Galaxy improved to 4-1-0 and kept the Whitecaps (0-4-1) winless.
"It was a good game, fantastic atmosphere," said Ibrahimovic. "You saw the people. Hopefully, they enjoyed the game. It was a good game for us."Not so much for the Whitecaps, who are 0-2-1 at home in the young season.
Ibrahimovic left the home crowd in awe as his goal in the 71st minute clinched the win. He chested down Rolf Feltscher's cross from the right corner and put a right-footed volley past Vancouver goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.
Eight minutes earlier. Ibrahimovic had sent a cross to Daniel Steres at the far post that he headed in after sneaking behind defenders.
Ibrahimovic also had a goal disallowed by an offside call that he disputed, contending that an official made a mistake that "can not happen" with a video replay available. (The play was not reviewed. Under Major League Soccer rules, offside calls can be reviewed, but officials can only use video available to a broadcast.)
Ibrahimovic also missed a gimme goal after Crepeau misplayed a catchable shot and left the ball at the star striker's feet. The shot went wide.
"I
had a good chance with the goalkeeper," Ibrahimovic said. "He gave (the ball) to
me. He surprised me and I missed, which I shouldn't have missed."
The outcome might have turned out differently if Vancouver defender Ali Adnan had not flubbed a penalty-kick in the first minute.
"I felt sorry for the guy," said Ibrahimovic. "I was happy that he missed. Don't misunderstand me. But when it happens, it happens."
Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham easily grabbed the ball while sitting on the artificial turf.Speaking of artificial turf, Ibrahimovic detests playing on it, but he gave the B.C. Place variety a passing grade of sorts.
"It's coming more and more, so I'm totally against the turf," he said. "But I said I would come and play. This turf was better than the other ones I've been playing on in MLS this year."
Ibrahimovic said he could not use the turf as an excuse after the Galaxy turned a scoreless first half into a one-sided contest in the second. He and the rest of the Galaxy left the Whitecaps lamenting the missed PK and other chances, especially those that came in the first 45 minutes.
"In
the first half, we were doing bad," said Ibrahimovic. "They were trying to play around and I
think they gave 200 per cent in the first half, because they looked
tired in the second half. We took over more and more and let them run
more and more. But I don't think we changed the way they were marking
me. The only thing is, we were more dominant and I got more space and
more chances."
He was what the Whitecaps appear to lack: a constant scoring threat.
The Caps had a goal disallowed after Fredy Montero crashed into Bingham.
As a result, the Whitecaps were held scoreless for the third time in their first five games of 2019.
But Ibrahimovic's presence alone provided entertainment for many Vancouver fans.
