LAFC downs Sporting KC to sweep season series

LOS ANGELES -- In their final match before the FIFA Club World Cup, LAFC downed Sporting KC, 3-1, at BMO Stadium on Sunday evening. It brought their unbeaten streak in MLS to nine consecutive matches, while snapping a four-game KC unbeaten streak in the process.

The contest opened up quietly as both sides failed to generate any sort of substantial attack. Los Angeles held control of possession early as they held Kansas City without a shot through the first 38 minutes.

Denis Bouanga finally fired the game's first pair of shots on goal in the 21st and 22nd minutes, failing to convert with John Pulskamp defending in goal. He then committed LAFC's first foul three minutes later.

Sporting KC, after having only had the ball in their possession 38.6% of the time through 39 minutes, struck to get on the board with their first shot attempt of the match. Dejan Jovelijic extended his scoring streak to four consecutive games, now having posted five goals in that span.

Eddie Segura, who had not scored all season heading into Sunday, delivered the equalizer in the 46th minute right before halftime. The 28-year-old cashed in on the corner kick from Bouanga, drilling a header past the diving reach of Pulskamp. It was just his second MLS goal since 2019.

Through the first half, LAFC had posted five shot attempts (three on goal) and four corner kicks as they worked with the ball in their possession 63% of the time. However, a nifty move from Manu Garcia leading to Jovelijic's goal was all that Kansas City needed to get in the scoring column.

Following a similar theme, LAFC continued to pressure the KC defense, and eventually earned a penalty in the 59th minute as Bouanga was fouled by Memo Rodriguez. The squad's leading goal scorer stepped up and scorched his eighth into the back of the net past Pulskamp to give Los Angeles their first lead at 2-1.

LAFC continued to pester Pulskamp, firing a flurry of shots towards him as the game ticked closer to the 90th minute. Following a pair of deflected shots from Olivier Giroud and Ryan Hollingshead in the 80th, Los Angeles had already posted 17 shot attempts (seven on goal), compared to a single shot from Kansas City. Hollingshead celebrated his 300th career MLS appearance in the match, earning a nice round of applause from the BMO Stadium crowd.

With only five stoppage time minutes remaining, Giroud drilled the dagger in the 93rd minute to make it 3-1 Los Angeles. It was the third goal of the year for the Frenchman, who came off the bench back in the 66th minute as a substitute.

LAFC walked away with a 3-1 victory, improving to 7-5-4. They are now in fifth place in the Western Conference. 

"I think with this game and this type of opponent, we didn't win at the end of [last] season," said head coach Steve Cherundolo. "This group has learned a lot about sticking to what we do well. We still have a lot of football to go, but it was an important win tonight, important three points."

Taking a pause from MLS play, the black and gold will begin FIFA Club World Cup group play on Monday, June 16, against Chelsea at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. PT.