Dejan Joveljic scored two of the LA Galaxy's four goals in the second half as they rallied from a two-goal halftime deficit for a 4-2 victory over Los Angeles FC in another thrilling edition of the El Tráfico rivalry Saturday night.
Joveljic put the Galaxy ahead 3-2 in the 67th minute with a backheel goal, completing a flurry of three goals in 14 minutes by the first-place club in this rivalry derby between the top two teams in Major League Soccer's Western Conference.
Riqui Puig added a late goal as the Galaxy snapped their three-game losing streak in El Tráfico while formally clinching a playoff berth and moving seven points ahead of second-place LAFC.
Denis Bouanga scored his 17th goal of the season and set up another in the first half for LAFC.
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Joveljic and Edwin Cerrillo scored two minutes apart early in the second half to even it for the Galaxy, with Cerrillo recording his first MLS goal.
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After Joveljic scored his team-leading 13th goal, LAFC midfielder Lewis O’Brien was sent off in the 79th minute on a red card for stomping on Miki Yamane’s foot with a late challenge.
Puig then banged home a fourth goal before the Spaniard ripped off his jersey and waved it like a matador's cape in celebration.
Mateusz Bogusz scored in the fourth minute for LAFC, which won the clubs' first two meetings this season.
With this defeat, LAFC lost control of its destiny for the top spot in the West despite having two games in hand on the Galaxy.
The Galaxy leads 10-9-5 in a rivalry series characterized by dramatic goals and high-scoring contests since its inception in 2018. LAFC had won six of the past eight meetings between two clubs separated by 12 miles of the 110 freeway.
LAFC took an early lead when Bouanga got the ball near midfield and roared down the left side, muscling past defenders and putting a low ball off Maya Yoshida's foot in front. Bogusz headed the deflection into an open net.
In the 15th minute, Bouanga took advantage of a midfield turnover by Puig and once again charged down the left side before moving in for a sharp-angled goal.
Bouanga’s latest spectacular game made it clear he remains LAFC’s most important player even after the recent arrival of Olivier Giroud and the imminent return of former MLS MVP Carlos Vela, who has sat out all season.
But the Galaxy found a spark at halftime, and Joveljic scored in the box in the 53rd minute. Two minutes later, Cerrillo launched a beautiful shot past Hugo Lloris for his first MLS goal after spending parts of the past six seasons with FC Dallas and the Galaxy.
The rivalry game got testy late, with Puig and Giroud yapping at each other for nearly a full minute after a collision. Moments later, Bouanga grabbed defender Jalen Neal's jersey during an argument after contact in the box.
Vela Returns
Los Angeles FC is finalizing a deal to re-sign former Major League Soccer MVP Carlos Vela for the playoff push.
The move is expected to be formally announced in the coming days as LAFC gears up to chase its second MLS title.
Vela was the first player in LAFC history when the Mexican star left Real Sociedad to sign with the expansion MLS club, which began play in 2018. Vela was a dominant MLS forward for a half-decade with LAFC, and he won the league's MVP award in 2019 while also leading MLS in goals.
The 35-year-old Vela also was a key member of LAFC's MLS Cup championship team in 2022, but he has been out of soccer since last winter, when his LAFC contract ended and wasn't renewed.
Vela, who scored nine goals last season, was linked to moves back to Mexico or Europe, but he stayed on the market while LAFC fans regularly called for his return.
Vela should add even more offensive production to a roster headlined by former Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga, Mateusz Bogusz and newcomer Olivier Giroud, who has played in two matches after joining the club from AC Milan this summer. Bouanga's 16 goals this season are good for third in MLS.
