LA descends into anarchy as Mexico World Cup fans go wild before cops swoop

Mexican FIFA World Cup fans wreaked havoc on Los Angeles Tuesday night after the national soccer team beat Ecuador.

Just a few weeks after chaos enveloped Koreatown as Mexico claimed a 1–0 victory over South Korea, the team’s fans took to the streets off a 2–0 win over Ecuador to celebrate.

Fans were seen crowding the streets in the Pacoima neighborhood into the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Stunning video showed brazen hooligans setting off illegal fireworks in the street and cars doing donuts on the pavement.

One moment showed a black car spinning its tires hard enough to create a cloud of smoke as a fan hung out the window with a Mexico flag.

The vehicle came within feet of spectators as sparks from the improvised pyrotechnics show rained down.

But police showed up in force to quell the madness. Multiple police cars blocked the road as they approached with lights flashing and sirens blaring.

Police in skirmish lines needed riot gear to disperse the crowd, even pushing a man to the ground at one point.

A wall of LAPD officers using batons and tear gas proved enough to shuffle the crowd out of the area. Air support could be heard.

The LAPD told The California Post that police responded to a street takeover at Van Nuys Boulevard and Haddon Avenue in Pacoima, and cleared it out. Police provided no details on arrests or how they cleared the fans.

Other celebrations were held in LA, including in the San Fernando Valley, Huntington Park and Boyle Heights neighborhoods.

Fireworks illuminated the skies in several areas for the rare win, which represents Mexico’s first World Cup knockout-stage victory in 40 years.

Mexico will play in the round-of-16 on Sunday, providing another opportunity for rowdy fans to shine.

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