Mexican striker Alan Pulido scored in Sporting Kansas City’s 2-1 win over Los Angeles FC (LAFC) on Saturday, from which he had to leave due to injury, in an MLS matchday in which ‘Chicharito’ Hernández achieved a double for LA Galaxy.
South Korean Kim Moon-hwan opened the scoring for LAFC in the 24th minute with a brilliant individual play in which he cut two defenders inside the area and defined a cross shot.
The Los Angeles team was left with 10 players in 58 for a direct red to Tristan Blackmon for knocking down Hungarian Daniel Salloi as he entered the area.
The young pearl Gianluca Busio launched the same free kick to the crossbar and in the 61st minute he started the play that led to the goal of Alan Pulido, who took advantage of a rebound in the area to launch a left-footed shot to the net.
Two weeks before the start of the Gold Cup, the Mexican international striker had to retire in ’75 after injuring himself in a volley attempt.
In 87, Salloi culminated the comeback by receiving a service in the left peak of the area and sending the ball to the opposing squad.
In the 90 + 4 Carlos Vela, who came in relief in the 57, had the last chance from LAFC but his left-handed shot inside the area went slightly wide.
With this victory, Kansas City is in second place in the Western Conference of the North American Soccer League (MLS), two points behind the leader Seattle Sounders, while LAFC falls to ninth place, outside the playoffs.
In a Californian duel, the LA Galaxy beat the San Jose Earthquakes 3-1 led by Argentine Matías Almeyda.
Mexican Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández was the star of the game with two home-brand targets, overtaking his defenders in the small area, in the 11th and 50th minutes.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United striker continues his resurrection season, in which he leads the gunners’ table with 10 goals in 10 games.
Germany’s Florian Jungwirth made it 3-0 at an own goal in the 70th and 17-year-old Cade Coldwell scored San Jose’s only goal in the 82nd.
The LA Galaxy is third in the Western Conference, four points behind the Seattle Sounders, and San Jose tenth, three points away from the playoffs.
– Results of the day of the North American Soccer League (MLS):
Friday:
Inter Miami – Orlando City 1-2
Saturday:
Sporting Kansas City – Los Angeles FC 2-1
Toronto FC – FC Cincinnati 0-2
Chicago Fire – Philadelphia Union 3-3
Real Salt Lake – Houston Dynamo 1-1
Nashville SC – Montreal 1-1
Seattle Sounders – Vancouver Whitecaps 2-2
San Jose Earthquakes – LA Galaxy 1-3
Portland Timbers – Minnesota United 0-1
Sunday:
Atlanta United – New York Red Bulls
gbv/gma
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