Kamara, Bouanga lead LAFC to 2-1 victory over Galaxy at Rose Bowl Stadium
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Kei Kamara and Denis Bouanga scored four minutes apart late in the first half and Los Angeles FC held on for a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy in a Fourth of July battle for the top spot in the Western Conference at Rose Bowl Stadium on Thursday night.
Kamara scored on a header off a corner kick by Mateusz Bogusz in the 40th minute to give LAFC (13-4-4) a 1-0 lead. It was the third goal this season for Kamara and the 147th of his career, which is second in league history. Chris Wondolowski of the San Jose Earthquakes set the record with 171.
LAFC took a two-goal lead into halftime when Bouanga scored on a penalty kick four minutes later. The PK came after Eduard Atuesta drew a foul on Galaxy defender Julián Aude. It was the 14th goal of the season for Bouanga. That ties him with D.C. United's Christian Benteke for second place, two behind front-runner Cristian “Chicho” Arango of Real Salt Lake. Bogusz is tied for fourth with 12.
The Galaxy (11-4-7) pulled within a goal in the 56th minute when Gabriel Pec took a pass from rookie defender Miki Yamane and scored for the seventh time this season. Yamane's assist was his fifth.
John McCarthy finished with six saves in goal for LAFC.
Hugo Lloris stopped three shots for the Galaxy.
LAFC's victory knots the all-time regular-season series between the clubs at 7-7-5.
The two teams set a league attendance record when they squared off last Fourth of July at the Rose Bowl. A crowd of 82,110 fans saw the Galaxy post a 2-1 victory. The Galaxy are 87-33-9 all time at Rose Bowl Stadium.
LAFC travels to play the Houston Dynamo on Sunday. The Galaxy will host Minnesota United on Sunday.
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