The 102-year-old Rose Bowl hosted the 23rd edition of the “El Trafico” battle between LA FC and LA Galaxy on Thursday night to cap off MLS Matchday 24. Cincinnati tied a bit of MLS history, while a new goal-scoring kingpin was crowned in Vancouver. Plenty of mid-week soccer action took place across North America on the Fourth of July weekend.
“El Trafico” Delights on MLS Matchday 24
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LA FC used two late first-half goals to earn a 2-1 victory over the LA Galaxy on July 4th at the Rose Bowl. Kei Kamara scored in the 39th minute to give LA FC the 1-0 lead before Denis Bouanga doubled the lead, 2-0, from the penalty kick spot a minute before the halftime whistle. LA Galaxy responded early in the second half with a Gabriel Pec strike in the 56th minute but they were unable to generate additional offense to complete the comeback.
Bouanga’s 14th goal of the season ties him in second place with D.C. United, Christian Benteke. Real Salt Lake’s Cristian Arango has been in a class all by himself with 17 goals in the campaign
LA extended their unbeaten streak to 10 matches in front of over 70,000 football fans in California. It was the second largest crowd this season only trailing Inter Miami – Sporting K.C. attendance of 72,610 fans in April to watch Lionel Messi run at Arrowhead Stadium.
Cincinnati Ties Longest Single Season Road Win Streak
FC Cincinnati have become the true road warriors of Major League Soccer this season as they marched into opposing stadiums and walked away with winning table points in 2024. Following a 3-2 win in Washington D.C., Cincy tied the 2022 CF Montreal squad with seven straight road wins, the top mark in MLS history. Nineteen-year-old Kevin Kelsy scored early to become the first teenager in MLS this season to tally five goals.
Pavel Bucha earned his first placement on the MLS Team of the Matchday by scoring a brace, his third and fourth this season. Pavel currently leads Cincinnati in minutes played in the 2024 season. Bucha’s selection is the 25th recognition for an FC Cincinnati participant this season.
Cincinnati will have to wait until July 20th to break the MLS single-season road win streak. Their next road trip is to New Jersey to battle the New York Red Bulls after a three-match homestand.
Vancouver’s New Franchise Leading Scorer
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Vancouver Whitecaps forward Brian White netted his 40th career goal to set a new all-time goal record for the franchise with his first-half goal during MLS Matchday 24. White surpassed Brazilian forward Camilo Sanvezzo’s 39 career goals for Vancouver between 2011-2013.
Vancouver earned a 3-1 win over Minnesota United FC on the back of MLS All-Star Ryan Gauld who assisted on all three scoring plays for the Whitecaps. Gauld set an assist record of his own on Brain White’s franchise-setting mark as his 10th game-winning assist passed Fredy Montero for most all-time for Vancouver.
A pair of Vancouver Whitecaps earned honors following MLS Matchday 24. Following the multiple-assist performance against Minnesota, Gauld joined Cincinatti’s midfielder Pavel Bucha on that honors. Meanwhile, defender Mathias Laborda’s defensive efforts earned him placement on the list. Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka was selected as a bench honoree behind New England’s Aljaz Ivacic.
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