HomeNews UpdateKei Kamara passes Landon Donovan for second-highest MLS goalscorer in LAFC Earthquakes win – Daily Bulletin
Kei Kamara passes Landon Donovan for second-highest MLS goalscorer in LAFC Earthquakes win – Daily Bulletin
June 23, 2024
Los Angeles FC forward Kei Kamara (left) celebrates with midfielder Ryan Hollingshead after Hollingshead scored a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
The Los Angeles FC starting lineup confers before the start of an MLS match against the San Jose Earthquakes at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga does a somersault in the air after scoring a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga (right) dribbles the ball past San Jose Earthquakes defender Rodrigues (26) during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris plays the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Kei Kamara (left) celebrates with midfielder Ryan Hollingshead after Hollingshead scored a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Timothy Tillman chases the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Eduard Atuesta attempts to make a pass against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Mateusz Bogusz moves the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC head coach Steve Cherundolo looks on during the second half of an MLS match against the San Jose Earthquakes at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Kei Kamara, second from right, is hugged by teammate and midfielder Timothy Tillman after Kamara scored a goal during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Kei Kamara reacts after scoring a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Mateusz Bogusz passes the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 22, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Ryan Hollingshead moves the ball down the field against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Tomás Ángel (21) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Tomás Ángel, back bottom center, scores a goal past San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper Jacob Jackson during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Tomás Ángel, left, controls the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC defender Erik Dueñas kicks the ball defended by San Jose Earthquakes forward Benji Kikanović during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Ilie Sánchez attempts to make a pass against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. Los Angeles FC won 6-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga (99) shoots for a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga celebrates after scoring a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)
Carlos Vela (left) will return to LAFC soon after participating in the World Cup, rejoining a strong roster with plenty of options. (Photo by Scott Varley, contributing photographer)
LOS ANGELES – Revenge was the order of the day.
For the Los Angeles Football Club, the 6-2 victory over the lesser San Jose Earthquakes, the last team to beat the Black & Gold almost two months ago, was a dish best served hot.
Hot as Mateusz Bogusz, whose first goal with a diving header in the 15th minute marked the eighth consecutive league game in which the Polish attacker had scored. The 22-year-old forward provided his fifth assist and scored another goal after half-time, giving him a total of eight goals this season.
Hot as was winger Denis Bouanga, who set up Bogusz’s second finish and had an assist for Ryan Hollingshead’s goal, the team’s fourth of the first half. He now has eight assists and 13 goals, three fewer than the league leader, after the Frenchman scored with his left foot in the 26th minute.
Hot like fullback Sergi Palencia, who assisted on the night’s first goal and started 17 consecutive games as LAFC went 12-2-3 in that stretch.
“We are in a very good situation,” Palencai said before the game, “and we want to keep going because in football you have to take advantage of the moment and make it last as long as possible.”
Hot like 39-year-old striker Kei Kamara, who scored his 146th MLS career goal on Wednesday in Austin, Texas, after a late equalizer, overtaking Landon Donovan and putting him in second place behind Earthquakes legend Chris Wondolwoski with 171 goals.
During his 17 years in MLS, Kamara scored goals against 26 of the league’s 29 teams and is one of 11 players to score 100 or more goals in MLS history.
“I didn’t come to this team saying I was going to score a lot of goals,” said Kamara, who signed with LAFC, his 11th MLS team, in late March. “The focus is really on playing on a winning team.”
With that in mind, hot as LAFC rose to the top of the Western Conference after extending its winning streak in all competitions to 10 and defeating its opponent 25-5.
The win over San Jose (3-14-2, 11 points) marked LAFC’s (11-4-4, 37 points) eighth consecutive win in MLS, a new club record, and tied the club’s previous record of six goals in a game.
The crowning touch in the 87th minute came from a trio of young LAFC players – Erik Duenas, Nathan Ordaz and Tomás Ángel – who patiently finished inside the box for Ángel’s first MLS goal, giving the Earthquakes a 3-1 win over the Black and Gold at Levi’s Stadium on May 4.
LAFC remains undefeated at home in 2024, improving its record to 9-0-2 in all competitions, picking up 26 of 30 points in MLS play and hosting the Colorado Rapids next weekend.
