Article content continued

GORED BY G.O.A.T. HORNS

If there is an example of what a difference-maker can do for an MLS club, it’s Ibrahimovic — and it couldn’t have been illustrated more bluntly than by his second goal.

Faced up with Ghazal, the Egyptian international and the Caps’ best defensive midfielder, Ibrahimovic shoulder-faked the Whitecap into the Nile before unleashing a rocket from 18 yards out over Stefan Marinovic.

It was his 20th for the Galaxy, good for second in MLS heading into Sunday’s play, and just the fifth 20-plus goal season in the team’s 22-year history.

Ibrahimovic might be entertainingly arrogant, but displayed some generosity to his teammates, too. He passed up a chance at a hat trick in the 77th minute, when we was awarded a penalty after being hacked down n the box by an overly aggressive Doneil Henry. He passed the honour to the kick to Alessandrini, and the French forward powered home his 10th goal of the season.

“Romain came and he asked and I give,” said Ibrahimovic. “Like I said when I came the first day, I’m not here to do a one-man show. I’m here for the team to help them and we need all the players we have. If Romain feels confident of course he should take it. I think that was more important than my hat trick, so we need all the players we have especially now in this moment. I need him as well as he needs me and the team needs us and we need the team.

“It’s the way we play, it’s the collective game. And he scored, more importantly.”

Added Alessandrini: ““Usually, Ibrahimović takes every penalty. For this one, I just asked him, ‘can I get this one?’ and he told me first, ‘let me score a hat trick.’ I said ‘please’ and he said ‘OK, go ahead.’ So, thank you for him and it was good for me to get a goal.”