LAFC routs Quakes, moves in to first place in West

Welcoming the team with the least amount of points to BMO Stadium on Saturday night, LAFC knew it could not afford a let down against the lowly San Jose Earthquakes.

LAFC was to prevent such a scenario, as they teed off on San Jose in the first half, and while the Quakes’ competitiveness showed in between the two halves, LAFC nevertheless was in control of the match. Denis Bouanga, Mateusz Bogush and Kei Kamara led the way, as LAFC cruised to a 6-2 win.

” I was really, really happy with the start of the game,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “Almost the entire first half until the last action. Exactly the game plan, we figured out where to be and what spaces to exploit, how to stretch them a little bit and then finally, how to expose them and create some chances.”

The result is a huge one for LAFC (11-4-4, 37 points), as this win combined with the LA Galaxy’s 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake forges a three-way tie on points between the three teams for first place in the Western Conference. LAFC however will get to occupy the top spot in the West by virtue of having one more win than both the Galaxy and RSL.

“Thank god for all the work, we are now seeing a high level,” LAFC defender Eddie Segura said. “We are enjoying it and are happy with the current moments.”

LAFC wasted no time imposing its will on the match. LAFC opened the scoring in the 16th minute, as Timothy Tillman passed to Shane Palencia, who then dribbled down the right side towards the penalty area, Palencia then sent a cross into the box, and Bogusz dove and headed a ball just outside the six-yard box and past keeper Jacob Daniel Jackson into the back net.

LAFC was just getting started, as they doubled its advantage in the 26th minute. Tillman passed to Hollingshead, who then sprung Bouanga forward, Bouanga touched a ball into the penalty area, then fired a left-footed shot past Jackson into the back net. Then it was the ageless veteran Kamara that got his name on the scoresheet in the 33rd minute and in the process achieved a milestone, as he headed in a Bogusz cross past Jackson near post for his 146th career MLS goal, placing him second on the league’s all-time scoring list.

“I can’t score that many goals without people passing me the ball,” Kamara said. “I’m not a player that gets the ball and dribbles all the way, but to have those connections with all these guys around me. I give them trust so that they can also believe in my abilities.”

LAFC finished its first half surge in the 43rd minute when Ryan Hollingshead’s shot took a deflection and into the back net to give LAFC a 4-0 lead. San Jose did get some reprieve in stoppage time, as Rodrigues scored to prevent a shutout. Not that LAFC was going to let that dampen its dominant evening. LAFC got that goal back just three minutes into the second half, as Bogusz one-timed a Bouanga cross past Jackson near post. The Quakes however refused to quit, pulling another goal back in the 57th minute as Benjamin Kikanovic headed home a Hernan Lopez cross for San Jose’s second of the match. LAFC however was able to keep the Quakes out of the back net from there on, then Tomas Angel sealed the three points for LAFC with his first career MLS goal in the 87th minute.