LAFC maintains post-World Cup surge with rout of SKC

A heatwave has been scorching Los Angels this past week, but LAFC has been on its own hot streak since the resumption of league play.

LAFC made it three wins in a row since the beginning of the second half of league play, as they jumped out to a three-goal lead on Sporting Kansas City and never looked back, and LAFC (10-5-3, 33 points) ensured a three-way tie with the San Jose Earthquakes and Vancouver Whitecaps for first place in the Western Conference with a 4-0 win at BMO Stadium.

“When you feel your guys are in a good moment, you have to go for it,” LAFC head coach Marc Dos Santos said. “I think the week, this week, the commitment of our guys, from Friday to today, Saturday, is not easy.”

Just as important as another three points was the source of the goals. Son-Heung Min scored for a third straight game, maintaining his second half form, as did Denis Bouanga had a brace in the match. David Martinez provided the scoring balance for LAFC with a goal of his own.

“When I’m out there, I’m trying to do my best to help out Denis, to help out Sonny,” Martinez said. “When you have the opportunity to score, you try to take advantage. Thanks to god, I was able to score today, but ultimately, we’re all just trying to do our best to win the game.”

It didn’t take LAFC long to asset themselves. Timothy Tillman played a ball for Marky Delgado, Kansas City’s Zachary Bassong cut off the pass, but the ball continued forward and Son, having got behind Kansas City defender Wyatt Meyer, chased down the ball into the penalty area and despite last minute pressure from behind from Meyer, Son still managed to fire a right-footed shot that beat Stefan Cleveland far post. Kansas City protested that Son was in an offside position, but replays showed that Son was likely kept onside by Jake Davis, therefore, the goal stood.

The Floodgates soon opened for the home side. LAFC got goal number two in the 37th minute, as Mathieu Choiniere cleared a ball out of its side of the field, Bouanga chased down the ball, headed it forward to get past defender Or Blorian, touched a ball all the way into the penalty area, then chipped a ball off his right foot over Cleveland into the back net.

“I Think the system is working right now,” LAFC defender Ryan Porteous said. “If teams want to come out and press us man for man like Salt Lake, then Kansas City was a little bit different today, but we’ll always try to find a way to win the game.”

LAFC then basically ended the match right before halftime, as Bouanga sent a long ball forward, an unmarked Martinez chased the ball down, dribbled into the penalty area, deked Meyer, then fired a left-footed shot past Cleveland that enabled LAFC to take a 3-0 lead into the locker room at the half. A fourth goal from LAFC in the 87th minute was merely icing on the cake, as Ryan Porteous sprung Tyler Boyd down the right side, Boyd played a ball into the penalty area and Bouanga one-timed a right-footed volley past Cleveland near post.