LOS ANGELES – Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced his arrival in Major League Soccer with two goals on his debut including an injury-time winner as the Los Angeles Galaxy fought back from three goals down to beat Los Angeles FC 4-3 on Saturday.
Ibrahimovic – who only arrived in California on Thursday – lashed home an imperious volley from 40 yards just six minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute to make it 3-3 and trigger pandemonium at the StubHub Center.
MLZ @LAGalaxy pic.twitter.com/X8YvMO8cRW
— Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official) April 1, 2018
The Swede then headed home Ashley Cole's cross in injury time to put Galaxy 4-3 ahead in an extraordinary finale that lived up to the hype that surrounded the veteran striker's arrival from Manchester United.
It was the final act of a thrilling first ever derby between the Galaxy and expansion side LAFC, who had surged into a 3-0 lead early in the second half after two goals from Carlos Vela and an own goal from Daniel Steres.
Slack play from LAFC allowed Galaxy to pull a goal back through Sebastian Lletget in the 61st minute after dogged work from Servando Carrasco.
The home crowd then roared in appreciation in the 71st minute when Ibrahimovic made his entrance from the substitutes bench.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic in action during his LA Galaxy debut where he scored twice. Photo: USA TODAY Sports
The 36-year-old superstar had an instant impact and was involved in the build-up which led to Galaxy's second goal, headed in by Chris Pontius from Emmanuel Boateng's cross.
LAFC had a chance to regain the lead when Costa Rican international Marco Urena hit the woodwork late on.
But instead it was Ibrahimovic who was determined to have the last word.
Former Chelsea and England international Cole stormed forwards down the left flank and crossed into the area, and Ibrahimovic guided home the header to launch his MLS career in the most dramatic way possible.