LAFC Overwhelm LA Galaxy 3-0 in El Tráfico, Penalty or Not
The penalty decision may divide opinions, but LA Galaxy can't hide behind it. Elite teams create and finish chances regardless of officiating, and on Friday night at Dignity Health Sports Park, LAFC did exactly that in a 3-0 win over their crosstown rivals.
Mark Delgado opened the scoring in the 26th minute, converting after a scramble in the box, before Denis Bouanga doubled the lead from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time. The spot kick followed a lengthy VAR review after Galaxy defender Justin Haak fouled Bouanga inside the area, according to LAFC's official match report. Notably, Son Heung-Min initially looked set to take the kick before handing it to Bouanga, who has now scored in seven straight appearances against the Galaxy, a record for the derby.
Son sealed the result himself in the 57th minute, his first MLS goal of the season, finishing off a Delgado layoff, per the LA Galaxy match report.
LAFC looked sharper, more clinical, and deserved the derby bragging rights. Galaxy managed just a handful of second-half half-chances and never threatened to make a game of it. If this is where both sides stand a game into the second half of the season, the gap in Los Angeles is not close.
