Zlatan Ibrahimovic received a red card for slapping an opposing player in the head on Monday but the LA Galaxy were still able to eke out a 1-0 win over the Montreal Impact without their marquee acquisition.
Impact defender Michael Petrasso stepped on the 36-year-old´s foot in the 40th minute of the match in Montreal and the towering Swede retaliated with a slap to the back of Petrasso´s head.
Both players fell to the ground in an apparent effort to win the sympathy of referee Ismail Elfath but after a review of the video, Petrasso was shown a yellow card and the former Juventus, Barcelona and Manchester United striker a red.
Despite the Impact controlling the ball for 56 percent of the game and taking 15 more shots, Galaxy´s 10 men prevailed when Ola Kamara scored the only goal of the game in the 75th minute.
The win ends a four-game skid for the Galaxy who are now 4-6-1 while the loss is the third straight for the 3-9-0 Impact, who will need to find some goals in the remaining 24 games of the season if they hope to make the playoffs.
Ibrahimovic made a Hollywood entrance during his first game for the Galaxy in March when he scored twice, including the winner, in a thrilling 4-3 victory over local rivals LAFC but has added only one more goal since.
Sweden´s record goalscorer, Ibrahimovic retired from international football after Euro 2016 and, despite flirting with a comeback, will miss this year´s World Cup in Russia.
-
49ers crushed as Kenneth Walker III leads Seahawks to 41-6 win -
Canadiens star Lane Hutson makes history with 100th NHL assist -
Australian Open: Djokovic chases historic 25th Grand Slam with new approach -
Wizards vs Kings: Domantas Sabonis returns after 27-game absence -
NLL brings professional lacrosse back to Edmonton after 10 years -
Kevin Durant speaks out on Oklahoma City Thunder’s physical defensive style -
Defying age at Milano Cortina Games: Canadian skater Stellato-Dudeke aims for gold at 42 -
Jonathan Quick, the New York Rangers face mounting pressure as losses pile up