Hitting the business end of an immensely big season for the MLS, Sporting Kansas City and LA Galaxy are the two sides who set the scene for our latest 'Framed' feature. Capturing those moments as the two teams went toe-to-toe in search of a playoff place, expect atmosphere.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has settled into life as a Galaxy player so well that it's hard to remember the time before he was a resident stateside. Adding to his tally and racking up an impressive goal record which extended to 21 goals in 25 games after this game, quite frankly he can talk about himself in the third person all he likes. With both teams hunting for a playoff spot, it was a game where they cancelled each other out, finishing 1-1 at the end of the 90 minutes.
Under the lights is a good way to spend a Saturday night in the states, especially with an MLS fixture. What's more, when both teams are fighting for their season, it adds another level of edge to the fixture. Cue the 25 minute mark and up steps Zlatan after Galaxy were awarded a penalty. This was a game that SKC needed to get a result from just as much as Galaxy. After conceding a first half penalty the home side went through the gears in search for redemption.
Galaxy had a second goal disallowed thanks to VAR just before the half time break. For SKC, it was Scottish export Johnny Russel who made Galaxy pay with just seven minutes left on the clock. Weaving through the backline and heading towards double figures for the season, his ninth goal of the year was enough to put his side into the playoffs for the seventh year on the trot.
Silverware is still in sight for both teams. For Sporting Kansas City, they now travel to Vancouver to play the Whitecaps on Wednesday while LA Galaxy will play Minnesota United on the 21st October.
Photography by Jared Martinez
