Mark Delgado had a goal and an assist and Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-Min also found the back of the net as Los Angeles FC rolled to a 3-0 victory over the host Los Angeles Galaxy on Friday night in the El Trafico rivalry at Carson, Calif.
Delgado scored the first of LAFC’s goals and Bouanga added a penalty-kick tally later in the first half for LAFC (8-5-3, 27 points).
Son broke his season-long drought in the second half with his first goal. The South Korean star had nine tallies in 10 games last season after joining LAFC.
LAFC’s Hugo Lloris made two saves to extend his MLS-best clean sheet total to nine.
Novak Micovic made three saves for the Galaxy (5-6-5, 20 points).
This was the 27th installment of the El Trafico rivalry. LAFC evened it up at 10-10-7.
LAFC outshot the Galaxy 13-11 and held a 6-2 edge on shots on target.
LAFC broke the scoreless tie in the 26th minute as Jacob Shaffelburg delivered a cross toward the area in front of the net. Delgado’s initial header was blocked but it settled at his feet after ricocheting off his head and he sent a right-footed shot into the net.
The Galaxy finally had a shot on the goal in the 40th minute but Joseph Paintsil’s short right-footed shot was stopped by Lloris.
Justin Haak of the Galaxy was assessed a penalty for a hard kick at the ball near Bouanga a few minutes later. Bouanga went to the spot in the first minute of stoppage time. Micovic dove to his right and got his hands to the PK but couldn’t keep the hard-hit shot out of the net.
LAFC had a good opportunity early in the second half but Son’s hard right-footed shot was stopped by Micovic.
But eight minutes later, Son passed the ball to Delgado, who one-touched it back. Son then booted a right-footed shot into the lower left corner to make it 3-0 at the 57-minute mark.
Three minutes later, Bouanga navigated through the defense and took a hard short-range right footer that Micovic was able to knock away with his hands.
–Field Level Media
