LAFC move into tie for first in West with rout of Earthquakes

Mateusz Bogusz collected a brace Saturday night and added an assist as Los Angeles FC established a 4-0 first half lead en route to a 6-2 win over the visiting San Jose Earthquakes.

Denis Bouanga, Kei Kamara, Ryan Hollingshead and Tomas Angel also scored goals for LAFC (11-4-4, 37 points), which moved into a tie for first place in the Western Conference with Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy. Bouanga also dished out a pair of assists as LAFC set its season high for goals.

Rodrigues and Benjamin Kikanovic scored for San Jose (3-14-2, 11 points) which could not escape last place in the West. The Earthquakes fell to 0-6-1 in their last seven matches and conceding their most goals in a match this year.

Bogusz started the scoring in the 15th minute, heading a beautiful right-to-left cross from Sergi Palencia just under the crossbar. Bouanga made it 2-0 11 minutes later when Hollingshead serviced him at the top of the box, enabling him to beat goalkeeper Jacob Jackson inside the left post.

Kamara made some history with his 33rd-minute marker. Bogusz popped a cross from the left side and Kamara won an aerial duel, heading the ball past Jackson for his 146th career goal to pass Landon Donovan for second in MLS history.

Hollingshead joined the fun in the 42nd minute when his innocent-looking shot from the left side caromed off the foot of defender Daniel Munie and beat a helpless Jackson. Bouanga drew the assist.

San Jose drew within 4-1 at the break when Rodrigues got a pass from Cristian Espinoza in the box and angled a shot off the right post, beating a diving goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. But Matusz got the goal back three minutes into the second half off a service from Bouanga, bouncing a shot from the right side past Jackson.

Kikanovic made it 5-2 in the 57th minute via Hernan Lopez's cross before Angel capped the scoring in the 87th minute.

LAFC outshot the Earthquakes 25-14, putting nine shots on frame.

--Field Level Media