LOS ANGELES — Kei Kamara is making up for lost time in his return to Los Angeles. The Sierra Leone native, who spent his teenage years in the Southland, shined once again in Thursday's El Tráfico matchup between the LA Galaxy and LAFC at the Rose Bowl.
Last year, this iconic venue drew the largest crowd in MLS history. This year, it brought a homecoming for Kamara that fans won’t soon forget. After signing with LAFC and returning to Los Angeles in March, Kamara has been on a tear. In June, he netted the 146th goal of his MLS career, overtaking Landon Donovan to become the league’s second-highest goalscorer.
The magic continued against the team he idolized as a youngster: the LA Galaxy. Kamara ignited the scoreboard with a powerful header, setting the tone for LAFC's 2-1 victory. The match unfolded before a roaring crowd of 70,076 at the Rose Bowl, showcasing the best of the Western Conference.
With this win, LAFC extended their unbeaten streak to 10 MLS matches (9-0-1), firmly at the top of the conference with 43 points (13-4-4). The rivalry’s 23rd edition left the series balanced at 9-9-5, but LAFC now edges ahead in goals, 49-48.