Whether they have lived through one “El Trafico” or all 14, everyone affiliated with the Los Angeles Football Club has a firm understanding of what’s on the line Wednesday.

A unique new chapter to Major League Soccer’s best young rivalry comes to the U.S. Open Cup for the first time when LAFC meets the Galaxy in a Round of 16 elimination match on Wednesday night in Carson.

“When the draw came through we were really excited to see that we’ll get the chance to put the record straight,” said LAFC co-president John Thorrington, who has seen every meeting, including the indelible Zlatan Ibrahimovic lightning bolt that ignited the first meeting in 2018 at Dignity Health Sports Park.

A 2-1 loss to the five-time MLS champs on April 9 continued LAFC’s four-plus-year trend of dropping points in Carson, making them 0-5-2 outside of Banc of California Stadium against the Galaxy.

Despite the result, Thorrington considers the second half of that match one of the best 45-minute stretches LAFC has played this year. There are several to choose from, including Saturday’s two-goal second half to win a weather-delayed match in Columbus, Ohio.

Team captain Carlos Vela’s beautiful sprint to get behind the defense and finish with his left foot after coming on as a second-half substitute gave LAFC the lead against the Crew, and the club’s supporters reason to believe that the Mexican forward is all the way back from the injuries that hampered him the past two seasons.

Beating the Crew put LAFC back on track after stumbling earlier this month with injuries that diminished roster depth during their compacted schedule.

“The way the group has managed that difficulty of being relatively thin I think coming out of the win in Columbus that was really pleasing and we’ve got two more big games to manage,” Thorrington said. “The hope is that at the end of the week we’re still in first place (in the Western Conference) and into the next round of the Open Cup.”

Staying alive to potentially hoist the Lamar Hunt Cup and earn automatic entry into next season’s CONCACAF Champions League event might matter as much as beating the Galaxy on its home field for the first time in eight matches.

“There is no hiding this is a huge game,” Thorrington said.

The Galaxy has six wins in the series to LAFC’s three.

The latest “El Trafico” is just the second elimination game between the two – LAFC having won their 2019 MLS Cup playoff match, 5-3.

The differences in an elimination match generally inspires added intensity, especially late, because it’s win or go home, but even an Open Cup “El Trafico” doesn’t leave much room for heightened action between the rivals.

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“If you look at LAFC and Galaxy over the last four-plus years, what this derby has a way of showing is that current form is out the window,” Thorrington said. “Nothing has gone according to some script. You couldn’t write some of the events that have happened.”

Newcomer Ilie Sanchez fully realized the importance of the derby upon his arrival in Los Angeles. His first taste in the April match left a sour note that lingers, he said. After one experience, fellow first-year LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau rendered the rivalry to its essence as a potential 120-minute match ending with penalty kicks awaits in America’s oldest soccer competition.

“Who wants it more in the moment?” Crepeau said. “It will be a big dogfight.”

LAFC at GALAXY

What: U.S. Open Cup, Round of 16

When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson

TV/Radio: ESPN+ / 710 AM, 980 AM