Kei Kamara passes Landon Donovan for second most goals in MLS in LAFC Earthquakes win – Orange County Register
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Los Angeles FC starts eleven meetings before the start of an MLS match against the San Jose Earthquakes at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga turns in the air after scoring a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga, right, dribbles the ball past San Jose Earthquakes defender Rodrigues (26) during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. The Los Angeles FC won 6- 2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris kicks the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Kei Kamara, left, celebrates with midfielder Ryan Hollingshead after Hollingshead scored a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Timothy Tillman chases the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6 -2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Eduard Atuesta looks to pass against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6 -2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Mateusz Bogusz moves the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6 -2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC head coach Steve Cherundolo looks on during the second half of an MLS match against the San Jose Earthquakes at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6- 2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Kei Kamara, second from right, is hugged by teammate Timothy Tillman after Kamara scored a goal during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday June 22, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Kei Kamara reacts after scoring a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr ., collaborating photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Mateusz Bogusz kicks the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Ryan Hollingshead moves the ball up the field against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., collaborating photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Tomás Ángel (21) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6- 2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Tomás Ángel, bottom center, scores a goal past San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper Jacob Jackson during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Tomás Ángel, left, controls the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC defender Erik Dueñas kicks the ball defended by San Jose Earthquakes forward Benji Kikanović during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. The Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Ilie Sánchez looks to pass against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6- 2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga (99) shoots for a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga celebrates after scoring a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr ., collaborating photographer)
Carlos Vela, left, will join LAFC shortly after playing in the World Cup, and he will return to a full roster that offers plenty of options. (Photo by Scott Varley, contributing photographer)
LOS ANGELES – Revenge was the order of the day.
For the Los Angeles Football Club, a 6-2 victory over the lowly San Jose Earthquakes, the last team to beat the Black & Gold nearly two months ago, was a dish best served hot.
Hot like Mateusz Bogusz, whose opening goal with a diving header in the 15th minute marked the Polish striker’s eighth consecutive league match with a goal-scoring contribution. The 22-year-old added his fifth assist and one more goal after halftime, good for eight this season.
Hot as winger Denis Bouanga, who set up Bogusz’s second goal and was credited with an assist on Ryan Hollingshead’s goal, the team’s fourth of the first half, giving him eight assists for score 13 goals, three less than the championship lead, according to the Frenchman. connected with his left foot in the 26th minute.
Hot as guard Sergi Palencia, who assisted on the first goal of the night and started 17 straight games as LAFC went 12-2-3 during that stretch.
“We are in a very good situation,” Palencai said before the match, “and we want to continue because in football you have to take advantage of this moment and make it last as long as possible.”
Hot as 39-year-old forward Kei Kamara, who followed a late equalizer in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday with goal No. 146 of his MLS career to surpass Landon Donovan and sit alone in second place behind 171 by earthquake legend Chris Wondolwoski.
During his 17 years in MLS, Kamara has scored against 26 of the league’s 29 teams and is one of only 11 players to score 100 or more goals in MLS history.
“I didn’t come to this team to say I’m going to score a lot of goals,” said Kamara, who signed with LAFC, his 11th MLS team, in late March. “Really, the focus is on a winning team. »
To that end: hot as LAFC, who rose to the top of the Western Conference after extending their unbeaten streak in all competitions to 10 by dominating the opposition 25-5.
The thrashing of San Jose (3-14-2, 11 points) marked a club-record eighth straight MLS victory for LAFC (11-4-4, 37 points) and tied the club record with six goals in a match.
The 87th-minute scorer came courtesy of a trio of LAFC youngsters – Erik Duenas, Nathan Ordaz and Tomás Ángel – and produced Ángel’s first MLS goal, a patient finish inside the box that doubled the Earthquakes’ 3-1 effort against the Black & Gold. at Levi’s Stadium on May 4.
LAFC remains undefeated at home in 2024, improving to 9-0-2 in all competitions while winning 26 of 30 points in MLS, and will host the Colorado Rapids next weekend.
