Ryan Hollingshead scored in the 86th minute as Los Angeles FC remained perfect two games into the season with a 1-0 victory over visiting New York City FC on Saturday.
Hugo Lloris made three saves to record his second clean sheet of the season and third in eight days, including a mid-week victory over the Colorado Rapids in CONCACAF Champions Cup play.
LAFC (2-0-0, 6 points) also earned a 1-0 victory in their season opener at home last week against Minnesota United.
Matt Freese had four saves for NYCFC (0-1-1, 1 point), who have absorbed a pair of heartbreaking results in the first two games of the season. They allowed a goal in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time last week and had to settle for a 2-2 tie with Inter Miami.
With the LAFC back line holding tight once again, LAFC finally found the offense it needed late in the game. Denis Bouanga sent a ball across the penalty area through traffic and it rebounded to a charging Hollingshead, whose blast got past Freese.
Hollingshead has already matched his goal output in 31 games (25 starts) last season. The defender has 30 career goals in 288 games over 12 MLS seasons.
NYCFC had slightly more possession at 50.8 percent and had 11 shots to eight for the home team, but only put three shots on goal.
In the eighth minute, NYCFC lost Tayvon Gray to an injury. He was replaced by Mitja Ilenic, who had scored a goal in the season opener at Miami.
It was LAFC’s first victory over NYCFC in four all-time matches after the teams had tied twice and NYCFC won the other. It was the first time the teams had met since 2021.
LAFC is now lined up for a fourth game in 11 days with a CONCACAF Champions Cup match at home against the Columbus Crew on Tuesday.
–Field Level Media
