On Wednesday night, Los Angeles FC defeated the Colorado Rapids, 4-0, at the away team’s stadium. It was Carlos Vela’s first game back after he suffered a leg injury at the beginning of the month.
Before halftime, LAFC (11-6-7, 40 points) added goals from Mateusz Bogusz and Ryan Hollingshead in a game that had been originally scheduled for Saturday but was moved due to Hurricane Hilary’s effect on Southern California.
The Black and Gold are now in exclusive control of second place in the Western Conference, four points behind St. Louis City, thanks to Cristian Olivera’s first MLS goal in his league debut, which provided some late insurance.
For his eighth shutout of the year and LAFC’s ninth overall, goalkeeper John McCarthy made four saves.
Despite Diego Rubio making his first Major League Soccer appearance since May 13 due to an upper-body injury, Colorado (3-11-10, 19 points) failed to score for the 13th game this season.
Summer addition Rafael Navarro of Brazil started up top with Rubio, but the Rapids again struggled to create chances.
Colorado, in last place, was outshot 20-13 and outshot 8-4 on goal, unable to close the 12-point deficit that separated them from the West playoff line.
In the 19th minute, Bogusz scored on a counterattack typical of LAFC. Bogusz received a pass from an open Vela on the left side of the box and curled a shot with his right foot to beat goalkeeper Marko Ilic and sneak inside the right post.
Vela scored 10 minutes later on an excellent ball from Ilie Sanchez down the left wing that found him just inside the box. Vela halted his advance to receive it, turned on the ball with his first touch, and finished cleanly to increase the home team’s advantage to 2-0.
Hollingshead got a little of luckier in the 36th minute when he scored on a move down the left side of the field for his second league goal of the season. The left back looked to be making an attempt to cross the ball to the recently acquired Mario Gonzalez. Instead, Hollingshead made it 3-0 with a shot at the far post that went between Ilic’s legs and into the side netting.
