Zlatan closes in 500th career goal landmark

Carson, California: Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his 499th career goal in the first half, and Carlos Vela converted a penalty early in the second half of the LA Galaxy’s 1-1 draw with LAFC on Friday night in the third edition of the new rivalry game dubbed ‘El Trafico.’

Ibrahimovic reached the edge of the 500-goal milestone crossed only by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo among active players, and the Galaxy hung on late to finish their first regular-season series against their expansion rivals with one victory and two draws.

Both Los Angeles clubs’ biggest stars scored in front of a sellout crowd of 27,068 packing StubHub Center for what has already become one of Major League Soccer’s best derbies.