Ibrahimovic scores first MLS hatrick as LA Galaxy beat Orlando City
- LA Galaxy defeated Orlando City in a seven-goal thriller to rank third on MLS Western Conference table
- Former Manchester United forward scored three of his side's four goals and his first hatrick in Major League Soccer
- He joined the StubHub Center outfit earlier this year after failing to command regular playing time at Old Trafford
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was on fire as he scored a hatrick to help LA Galaxy beat Orlando City 4-3 in their Major League Soccer encounter on Monday.
The former Manchester United forward scored all three goals in the second half as he increased his goal tally in the MLS to 15 goals in just 17 appearances.
Two of his goals were scored within the space of four minutes as the StubHub Center came from behind to claim maximum points with the supports of their home fans.
READ ALSO: Real Madrid captain Ramos shows off fishing skills while on holiday
This victory means that Galaxy are unbeaten in the last nine topflight matches - moving them up to third in the MLS Western Conference table.
Meanwhile, this will be Zlatan's fist hatrick in the MLS, and the first his first since scoring three for Manchester United in their 3-0 UEFA Europa League win over Saint-Etienne on February 26 last year.
Cristian Higuita gave the visitors the lead in the 18th minute, but a quick response from Giovani dos Santos levelled for the hosts six minutes before the break.
Orlando regained their lead shortly before half-time when Kjestan's cross from the right deflected off Galaxy defender Michael Ciani and into the net.
Zlatan stole the show in the second half with as he equalised for his side just two minutes on return from the break with a towering header from a Dos Santos cross.
The away team for the third time regained the leadership of the game seven minutes later when Dom Dwyer headed in Mohamed El-Munir's left-wing cross.
But Ibrahimovic wouldn't be denied, making it 3-3 with a thumping diving header from ola Kamara's right-side cross for his second of the game.
And he completed his first MLS hat-trick, and secured the points, on 71 minutes, smashing home a half-volley following a weak defensive clearance.
It leaves the Galaxy third in the standings, a point behind their local rivals LAFC in second and seven points shy of Western Conference leaders Dallas.
Legit.ng previously reported that Ibrahimovic claimed his 40-yard strike in his MLS debut was better than Cristiano Ronaldo’s stunning over-head kick against Juventus in the Champions League.
Real Madrid defeated the Serie A champions by a commanding 3-0 away win at Turin, as Ronaldo produced an emphatic bicycle effort, so good it even prompted Juve fans to applaud it.
However Ibrahimovic jokingly suggested that the Portuguese star's strike was a little too close to goal to his own long range strike.
Nigeria can get to the quarterfinal of World Cup - Ex-Super Eagles star Etim Esin - on Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
