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“LA Is Always Ours” – LA Galaxy’s Riqui Puig Shocks LAFC on US Independence Day in Front of Record 82,110 Attendance, Fans React

Published 07/05/2023, 1:08 AM EDT

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via Imago

This Independence Day, LA Galaxy took on Los Angeles FC at the Rose Bowl. LA Galaxy earned a narrow 2-1 win over Los Angeles FC. Along with the nail-biting victory, Major League Soccer also broke a historical record on this auspicious day. Undoubtedly, it was an important victory for LA Galaxy after a poor start to their season.

After their US Open Cup fixture in May, Galaxy put on another winning performance. The fans also remember that game really well because of the drama between Riqui Puig and Giorgio Chiellini after the game.

LA Galaxy grab a much-needed win!

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Former FC Barcelona wonderkid Riqui Puig had a solid game. The Spaniard joined the LA-based club on a free transfer earlier in the year. While everyone still criticizes his move, he put on a show in this game. With a goal and assist each, he managed to put on a match-winning performance.

In response to that, Los Angeles’ Ilie Sanchez equalized at one point, but it just wasn’t enough. Mexican striker Carlos Vela leveled the scoresheet in the 84 minute again. But sadly, he was offside.

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Let’s have a look at how the fans reacted to this thrilling encounter.

Without a doubt, the LA Galaxy fans were ecstatic. They couldn’t contain their excitement after the Independence Day derby victory. The club earned an important victory on an important day!

Also, star midfielder Puig also received heaps of appreciation from the fanbase. A fan mentioned that his presence was not only beneficial to the team but to the league as well.

All in all, the fanbase was quite delighted with the team’s victory. And their Twitter comment section was quite a wholesome place to be in. Along with that, this game also broke the MLS attendance record. 82,110 people turned up to watch this game live. Charlotte FC held the previous record with a total of 74,479 spectators during their match against LA Galaxy in 2022.

In the end, the Independence Day Derby turned out to be one for the ages! When they faced each other for the last time, Giorgio Chiellini surprisingly called Riqui Puig a clown! Let’s dive deeper.

Why did Chiellini call Puig a clown?

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Little over a month ago, today’s match winner Riqui Puig got embroiled in a controversy with LAFC’s Giorgio Chiellini. The former Juventus veteran wasn’t happy with a gesture by Puig during the game. Prior to today, the same sides faced each other on May 24 in the US Open Cup. The Spaniard scored LA Galaxy’s second goal of the game, which ended up in a 2-0 win.

via Imago

After scoring the goal, Puig tried to mock the rival fans by holding up his shirt in front of them. While everyone considered it to be normal banter, Chiellini was quite upset about the youngster’s actions. After the match, Puig was giving an interview and the veteran defender immediately showcased his anger. He walked past the former FC Barcelona star and called him ‘payaso’ which translates to ‘clown’.

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Chiellini later apologized for his actions. He did admit that he found Puig’s actions ‘very disrespectful’. But he revealed that he loved him as a player. Little did he know, that another brace was coming up during their league fixture, days later. What do you make of the fan sentiment after the LA Galaxy claimed

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Written by:

Daniel D'Cruz

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Daniel D'Cruz is a soccer writer at EssentiallySports, with a degree in Mass Media studies. He brings a wealth of experience to his writing, having published over 500 articles that cover everything from the dramatic sagas in the world of football to the latest happenings in the entertainment industry. Daniel is a die-hard football fan who has a deep-rooted passion for the game.
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Edited by:

Amal Joyce