LAFC snapped a four-game winless streak against the Galaxy, as the blue and yellow lead the series with seven wins and three draws.
LAFC’s latest signee, Gareth Bale of Wales, was introduced prior to the game in front of the ecstatic home crowd after arriving from Europe earlier in the day—while Giorgio Chiellini was dressed and warmed up in the second half but did not see action.
Bale was rumored to retire following his contract expiration with Real Madrid; but leading Wales into one of the final spots for this year’s World Cup in Qatar, the MLS season was ideal as it ends two weeks before the WC kickoff in late November.
“The best practice is to play games,” Bales said at halftime. “I want to make my stamp and help LAFC to win a trophy.”
Bales passed on an offer from his hometown Cardiff City. “The project here is really amazing ... the club is on the rise,” Bales said. “It’s something really glamorous.”
Bales said he was energized by the home crowd adding that he could help the development and professionalism of the youthful squad. “It just felt like home straight-away.”
Like Chiellini last week following the victory, Bales joined the team in singing the LAFC anthem while getting drenched in water by teammates.
LAFC leads the league with 38 goals; holding a perfect 7–0–0 record when scoring three or more goals this season, and is 12–0–1 when scoring two or more goals.
Statistically, #4 Western Conference Galaxy edged in possession with 56 percent, as well as total shots with 15 (6 on goal) compare to LAFC’s 11 shots (5 on goal). The Galaxy also had the advantage with, 445 total passes to 356, and 70 to LAFC’s 55 in duels won.
Cifuentes scored his first multi-goal game of his MLS career and his 10th for LAFC.
The first goal came in the 17th minute from a left-sided corner kick, by Kellyn Acosta, finding the 23-year-old from Ecuador unmarked in the center seven yards away for a header that went through the fingertips of Jonathan Bond.
The Galaxy nearly equalized in the 20th minute with an attack from the back through the center of the field finding Dejan Jovelic of Serbia with a low shot near the top of the box, only to be paired away by the diving left glove of Canadian Maxime Crepeau.
It would take until the 55th minute for Samuel Grandsir’s first goal of the season, with a low bouncing volley from nearly 16 yards away at the top-left of the box that went through a handful of defenders and past Crepeau, from a back-pass assist by Rayan Raveloson near the end-line.
LAFC responded with two goals in a span of two minutes beginning in the 70th minute with Carlos Vela sending a bending ball from outside the right side of the box toward the back post to find another aerial header, by Cifuentes who redirected the ball into the center of the goal as Bond committed to the back.
LAFC led 3–1 in the 72nd minute as Vela provided another assist, this time finding a running Arango through the center to push the ball right, past a defender blasting a low shot into the left corner.
In the 81st minute, Ravelsoson would get the Galaxy back in contention with a header from a cross by Victor Vazquez nearly nine yards in the center into the top-right corner, to finalize the scoring 3–2.
LAFC will next play at Nashville SC at 5:30 p.m. PT, on Sunday, July 17; while the Galaxy host San Jose on July 13th at 7 p.m. PT.
