LA Galaxy: Why Zlatan Ibrahimovic can catch Carlos Vela

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Carlos Vela will take their MLS Golden Boot battle into the final matchday of the regular season. Here is why the LA Galaxy man can catch his neighborhood rival.

The 2019 MLS Golden Boot race looked like it was going to be a runaway result at the midpoint of the season.

LAFC star and impending MLS MVP Carlos Vela had stormed out of the gates with an impressive goal-scoring record and appeared to be the only player in Major League Soccer that was capable of holding such a high standard this year.

However, we all learned rather quickly that we should never underestimate the power of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Even after missing the first few weeks of the season to injury, the LA Galaxy striker has risen up the rankings and narrowed the gap to just two goals entering Sunday’s final matchday of the regular season.

Both players should take to the pitch for their club’s respective final matches and this storyline is sure to make the final day even more interesting. If Ibrahimovic can record another hat-trick, the Golden Boot could be his. We have already seen he is capable of putting on a monumental effort as he did against Sporting Kansas City a few weeks ago.

For Vela, one has to think only one more goal will clinch it for him. He has struggled to find the back of the net since the small injury he picked up late in the season but his goal against Minnesota United last week showed he still has that deadly left foot when given the opportunity to shoot.

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Josef Martinez’s Golden Boot-winning performance last season saw him set a new single-season record for goals with 31. Vela matched that total with his goal last weekend and now needs only one more to set a new single-season record in MLS. The opportunity for Ibrahimovic is at hand as well if he can deliver a three-goal match on Decision Day, which is not entirely out of the question.

The LA Galaxy have been free-flowing of late, scoring two or more goals in five of their last six games. They last failed to score on August 3rd in a 3-0 defeat to Atlanta United. They also travel to a Houston Dynamo side that has conceded 57 goals this season and is eliminated from playoff contention. With a poor defensive record and nothing to play for, it would not be entirely surprising if the Galaxy, led by Zlatan, hit them for four, five or six.

Th MLS Golden Boot race further adds to the suspense that will ensue on Sunday. There really couldn’t have been a better set up for the end of the 2019 regular season. Even though there is no LA derby match on Decision Day, the rivalry will still be on as the two clubs contend for bragging rights of having the Golden Boot winner on their roster.

And so, as the scores pour in on Decision Day make sure you pay close attention to how these two incredible players perform on the day because this race is far from over.