Welcome to the Space Jam
On May 17, 2015, the Lions won their 1st home MLS match against then-reigning MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy by a score of 4-0. M Eric Avila, M Kaká, M Darwin Cerén and F Cyle Larin each found the back of the net on the night. It was also the first shutout at home in Club history.
The win marked the largest margin of victory by an expansion team over a defending MLS Champion in league history. City is 3-1-1 all-time vs reigning MLS Cup champs. In 2016 City defeated the Portland Timbers 4-1 and in 2017 the team drew 1-1 with Seattle Sounders FC. This season the Lions are 1-1-0 against current champion Toronto FC this season.
The Right Stuff
M Yoshi Yotún took 11 corner kicks on Thursday against NYCFC, tying M Matías Peréz García’s single-game Club-record set on Oct. 2, 2016, vs. Montreal.
M Cristian Higuita made his 86th career MLS regular-season appearance as a Lion, tying GK Joe Bendik for second-most in Club history. F Cyle Larin is the Club record-holder with 87 MLS appearances.
Hidden Figures
City will be without D Shane O’Neill, who was shown a straight red card upon Video Review in the 83rd minute against NYCFC. LA Galaxy will be without M Romain Alessandrini due to yellow card accumulation.
Galaxy Quest
City has scored 8 goals in 3 matches all-time against the LA Galaxy. The most recent came last year in the 91st minute, when F Cyle Larin scored the game-winner to maintain the Club’s four-match win streak at Orlando City Stadium. The Lions then went on to become the 1st team in MLS to open a new stadium with 5 consecutive victories.
The Lions’ 8 goals against the Galaxy are the most against any team that they’ve played only 3 times.
Interstellar
Sunday’s match will see 3 MLS All-Stars square off before they head to Atlanta for the 2018 MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday, Aug. 1. M Yoshi Yotún will represent the Lions after being selected by HC Gerardo Martino to the roster. F Zlatan Ibrahimovic and M Jonathan dos Santos will represent the Galaxy.
M Cam Lindley and Galaxy M Efrain Alvarez were both named to the MLS 2018 Homegrown Game roster. They will face off against Tigres UANL U-20 on Tuesday, July 31.
Club Connections
M Jose Villarreal made 70 appearances for LA Galaxy from 2012 to 2017, scoring five goals and assisting on an additional nine.
Galaxy M Servando Carrasco made 62 appearances across all competitions for City from 2015 to 2017, scoring 1 goal and registering 4 assists.
D Lamine Sané was teammates with Galaxy D Michael Ciani at Bordeaux from 2009 to 2012.
M Uri Rosell was teammates with Galaxy M Jonathan dos Santos at Barcelona B in 2012.
D Scott Sutter was teammates with Galaxy D Rolf Feltscher at Grasshoppers Zurich in 2008.
F Chris Mueller, D Jonathan Spector, M Will Johnson and Galaxy M Baggio Husidic all played for Sockers FC outside Chicago.
M Pierre Da Silva was teammates with Galaxy D Hugo Arellano on the U.S. squad at the 2015 U-17 World Cup.
M Yoshi Yotún and Galaxy F Zlatan Ibrahimović both spent time with Malmö FF. Ibrahimović was with the club from 1995 to 2001, where made his professional debut. Prior to joining City, Yotún played for Malmö from 2015 to 2017
