LAFC hands rival Galaxy its first loss of 2024-ZoomTech News

Doug McIntyre

Soccer Journalist

LAFC stays the king of Los Angeles.

The 2022 MLS Cup champion and 2023 runner-up beat crosstown rival and Western Convention chief LA Galaxy on Saturday with a 2-1 dwelling win at BMO Stadium on this season’s first “El Tráfico.”

Timothy Tillman gave LAFC a lead earlier than 4 minutes of the derby had been performed, a lead the Galaxy erased by means of Julián Aude simply earlier than the half-hour mark. However the 1-1 impasse did not final lengthy, as Denis Bouanga — final yr’s Golden Boot winner as MLS’s high scorer — restored the hosts’ benefit from the penalty spot simply seven minutes later. The aim that stood up as the sport winner for Steve Cherundolo’s squad, handing the beforehand unbeaten guests their first lack of 2024.

Listed below are a number of fast ideas on Saturday’s contest.

LA Galaxy vs. Los Angeles FC | Highlights

Play of the sport

Tillman’s early opener gave the house staff a colossal benefit, however the Galaxy made issues attention-grabbing by canceling out later within the first half. It was a wild sequence: Left fullback Aude beat World Cup successful goalkeeper Hugo Lloris however not the put up on his preliminary shot. The Argentine teen noticed his second effort off the rebound blocked earlier than getting a 3rd probability — which he cleanly deposited behind Lloris to as soon as once more knot the rating, not less than quickly.

Turning level

The decisive penalty was something however clear-cut. Even after the video help referee beneficial that heart ref Jon Freeman rethink the problem that felled Bouanga as a transparent and apparent error, Freeman caught together with his preliminary choice and awarded the spot kick. It wasn’t an opportunity that the French striker was about to waste. He did not, sending the eventual game-winner previous Galaxy keeper (and LAFC’s 2022 MLS Cup hero) John McCarthy.

Key stat

As a pure spectacle, El Tráfico by no means appears to disappoint. So it was within the twenty second all-time version on Saturday, because the nemesis mixed for 38 pictures in all, with LAFC sending almost half of their 20 appears on-frame.

What’s subsequent for LAFC?

The Black and Gold head to Portland — maybe probably the most troublesome away journey in all of MLS — subsequent Saturday to face the Timbers. LAFC returns to South Los Angeles on April 20, when the New York Crimson Bulls come to city.

What’s subsequent for the Galaxy?

Greg Vanney’s aspect is again in motion north of the border subsequent weekend, once they go to the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night time. The Galaxy’s two-match highway swing ends on April 21, once they welcome the San Jose Earthquakes to Dignity Heath Sports activities Park in Carson for the primary “California Clásico” of 2024.

Doug McIntyre is a soccer author for FOX Sports activities. Earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports activities in 2021, he was a workers author with ESPN and Yahoo Sports activities and he has coated United Statesmales’s and ladies’s nationwide groups at a number of FIFA World Cups. Observe him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.