Los Angeles FC starting eleven huddle prior to 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 flips 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, on 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 kicks 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 scores a goal 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 midfielder Timothy Tillman chases the ball down 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 looks to 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 look 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 midfielder Timothy Tillman after Kamara scores a goal 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 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, on Saturday, June 22, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Mateusz Bogusz kicks 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 up the pitch 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 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, on 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, on 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 looks to 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 forward Denis Bouanga (99) takes shot for a goal 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 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, on Saturday, June 22, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Carlos Vela, left, will rejoin LAFC soon after playing in the World Cup, and he’ll return to a deep roster that has a lot of options. (Photo by Scott Varley, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Kei Kamara, right, recovers the ball against San Jose Earthquakes defender Rodrigues 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 midfielder Ilie Sánchez (6) kicks 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 defender Sergi Palencia (14) looks to pass 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 midfielder Mateusz Bogusz, second from right, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal 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 defender Aaron Long dribbles 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 defender Jesús Murillo kicks the ball during the first 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)
Former USMNT player Maurice Edu performs honorary falconer duties prior to the start of an MLS match between the Los Angeles FC and 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 looks on prior to 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)
Fans cheer after Los Angeles FC scores a goal 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)
For the Los Angeles Football Club, a 6-2 victory at BMO Stadium on Saturday over the lowly San Jose Earthquakes, the last team to beat the Black & Gold nearly two months ago, was a dish best served hot.
Hot like 39-year-old striker Kei Kamara, who followed up a late equalizer in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday with goal No. 146 of his MLS career to surpass Landon Donovan and sit alone second all-time behind Earthquakes legend Chris Wondolowski’s 171.
“I’m not going to try and sugarcoat anything,” Kamara said. “I’m not shooting for 171. When you’re so close to 145 it’s like you want to get there. You want to get next to that person and be done. It’s nice that 171 is really far away so I don’t have to think about it.”
Former teammates in Houston and both veterans of Division-II college soccer in California, Kamara said Wondolowski’s success set the bar for him every year.
“I said to him, ‘You keep going, I’ll be right behind you,’” recalled Kamara, who early as a professional told himself he intended to play until the age of 40. “To be 1 and 2, it’s just a dream. People are going to say, ‘Go chase him,’ but I just want to be 1 and 2. Me and Wondo. It’s good there.”
During his 17 years in MLS, Kamara has scored against 26 of the league’s 29 teams, and ranks among the 11 players with 100 or more goals.
A product of Leuzinger High School and Cal State Dominguez Hills, Kamara would work out with Donovan in the offseason but never thought he would come close to matching him in goals scored.
“Landon is the greatest American soccer player to ever live,” said Kamara, who entered the U.S. when he was 16 as a refugee from war-torn Sierra Leone. “So for my name to be called next to his for this long, it’s an honor. It’s still always going to be next to Landon. The [MVP] trophy is named after him, so to get to be mentioned next to a great soccer player like that it’s kind of cool. I’m a fan.”
While his contributions have helped LAFC climb the table, Kamara said he would sacrifice all his goals to win his first MLS Cup.
“It’s a pleasure to have him,” Cherundolo said. “He comes to work with a smile on his face. He works hard. And we know what he can do in the box. And we’re starting to slowly figure out how to use him better and give him more service.”
Hot like Mateusz Bogusz, whose opening goal on a diving header in the 15th minute marked the Polish attacker’s eighth straight league game with a scoring contribution. The 22-year-old weapon added his fifth assist plus one more goal after halftime, good for eight on the season.
“He’s turning into more and more of an attacker,” Cherundolo said. “It’s really good. His finishing is quite clinical. His runs are good. He’s always looking to get in behind. He’s always looking for a dangerous pass or a shot. So he’s just a handful.”
Hot like winger Denis Bouanga, who set up Bogusz’s second finish and was credited with an assist on Ryan Hollingshead’s first goal of the year, the team’s fourth of the first half, giving him eight assists to go with 13 goals, three off the league lead, after the Frenchman connected with his left foot in the 26th minute.
“Denis was always the one attracting attention,” Cherundolo said, “and now Mati is attracting quite a lot of attention too, so it should open up things for other attackers like Kei.”
Hot like Hollingshead, who was credited with three assists (equaling team highs by Mark-Anthony Kaye and Diego Rossi) and now stands a goal shy of matching Graham Zusi for the most scores (30) by an MLS defender since 2010.
Hot like fullback Sergi Palencia, whose curling assist found Bogusz for LAFC’s first goal. The game marked Palencia’s 17 consecutive start — a span in which LAFC is an impressive 12-2-3.
To that end: Hot like LAFC, which now sits atop the Western Conference after pushing its unbeaten streak in all competitions to 10 while outscoring the opposition 25-5 over that time.
The capper in the 87th minute came from a trio of youngsters — Erik Duenas, Nathan Ordaz and Tomás Ángel — and produced Ángel’s first MLS goal, a patient finish inside the box that fittingly doubled up the Earthquakes 3-1 effort against LAFC at Levi’s Stadium on May 4.
“Up until that game our set piece was not good defensively,” Cherundolo said. “Our ball losses in buildup play were careless and led to chances and goals from opponents. That we also cleaned up.
“Those are a couple of the lessons defensively that have put us in position to win games.”
LAFC remains undefeated at home, improving to 9-0-2 in all competitions while taking 26 of 30 points in MLS play.
The drubbing of San Jose (3-14-2, 11 points) marked a club record eighth consecutive victory in MLS play for LAFC (11-4-4, 37 points), tying the club’s highwater mark with six goals in a match. Half a dozen goals matched a team high from Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.
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