April 11, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
Galaxy’s Unbeaten Home El Tráfico Record Put to the Test
Against LAFC on Sunday
Led by a hot start from Dénis Bouanga, LAFC are unbeaten in 2023 through six games (4-0-2), but still are searching for their first road victory of the season. The Black and Gold’s next opportunity to win away from home comes against crosstown rivals, the LA Galaxy, at Dignity Health Sports Park this Sunday in the first El Tráfico of the season (4:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass / FOX).
Despite LAFC’s success since entering MLS, the club has yet to beat their cross-city foes on the road, going 0-5-2 in the seven all-time regular-season meetings. In fact, the Galaxy have poured in goals against LAFC at home, scoring at least two in five of the seven meetings at Dignity Health Sports Park. To turn their fortunes around, LAFC will hope Carlos Vela can get on the scoresheet and pass Zlatan Ibrahimović (eight) for the most goals in El Tráfico history.
The Galaxy are hoping the return of Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández can spark a team that has managed just three goals in the first six matches in 2023. Hernández came off the bench at Houston on Saturday and played 35 minutes in his first action since a preseason injury. Chicharito scored the opening goal in the Galaxy’s 2-1 home victory over LAFC last season on April 9. Can he provide the much-needed boost in the Galaxy’s biggest game of the season thus far?
LAFC’s Dénis Bouanga Skyrockets Up Early-Season
MVP Leaderboard
The defending MLS Cup champion Los Angeles Football Club entered the season with a singular goal: to add more trophies to their rapidly filling trophy case. Despite adding star-power to their roster during the offseason in the form of Stipe Biuk and Aaron Long among others, a second-year sensation, Dénis Bouanga, has been the driving force being LAFC’s unbeaten start to the season.
The 28-year-old forward has scored 11 goals in nine games across all competitions, including his first career MLS hat trick against Austin FC on Matchday 7. Bouanga continues to stack brilliant performances with four multi-goal games in his last eight matches across all competitions and earned high praise from his head coach Steve Cherundolo following his dominating performance last week.
“He’s obviously confident, he’s scoring some great goals,” Cherundolo said. “I don’t think there’s a lot of coaching going on with a player of Dénis’ quality. The guy just scores.”
His superb…
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