LA Galaxy 1-2 Los Angeles FC: Visitors earn bragging rights in El Trafico
Two goals in five first-half minutes was enough to give Los Angeles FC the edge over their rivals, extending their lead in the table.
Los Angeles FC held on to beat LA Galaxy 2-1 after a quickfire first-half double to go three points clear at the top of the Western Conference.
Kei Kamara and Denis Bouanga were on target to put LAFC in command and, although Gabriel Pec halved the deficit in the second half, that proved enough to see off rivals Galaxy at the Rose Bowl.
The visitors dominated the shot count in the first 45 minutes, with Eduard Atuesta only able to strike the post after getting the better of John McCarthy.
LAFC finally got the breakthrough in the 39th minute as Kamara nodded in from the edge of the six-yard box.
Atuesta was then brought down in the penalty area less than a minute later, with a spot-kick being awarded after a lengthy VAR review, and Bouanga confidently converted it just before half-time.
Pec reacted quickest to poke Miki Yamine's cross past Hugo Lloris in the 56th minute, and Joseph Paintsil missed a glorious opportunity to equalise, skying his close-range effort over the post as the Galaxy dropped to third in the table.
Data Debrief: LAFC cannot stop scoring
LAFC have scored in their last 17 games in MLS. It's their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 18 between September 2021 and May 2022.
In fact, they have scored 20 first-half goals in 21 matches, with only Real Salt Lake (22) netting more.