Cifuentes leads LAFC to 5-0 thrashing of Charlotte, Philadelphia Union extend lead atop East
Los Angeles FC showed why they are the best team in MLS this season by beating Charlotte 5-0 to take a six-point lead at the top of the Western Conference, one game less.
LAFC controlled the first half, creating 12 shots from Charlotte's four, but after 45 minutes the teams entered the locked half-time break at 0-0 as the attacks from the home team continued to falter in the final third.
Whatever advice was given during the break seemed to work, with Jesus Murillo finding the breakthrough in the 49th minute when he headed home with an elegant through ball from Diego Palacios. That opened the floodgates, with Jose Cifuentes making it 2-0 10 minutes later, and Cifuentes then became a distributor in the 73rd minute to set up Carlos Vela for 3-0.
Cristian Arango had fun putting home LAFC's fourth in the 76th minute, and an own goal in stoppage time from Charlotte captain Anton Walkes completed the rout.
Earlier in the day, it was Orlando City that moved into the top six in the Eastern Conference with a surprise 1-0 away win over the New York Red Bulls.
Uruguay's Facundo Torres scored the game's only goal in the 17th minute to make it five games without a win for the Red Bulls, who still sit fourth in the East.
In a back-and-forth, Cincinnati came back from an early 1-0 deficit to lead 2-1 at halftime thanks to goals from Brandon Vasquez and Brenner, only to be denied all three points by an Andrew Gutman equalizer in the 83rd minute.
The East's bottom side DC United continued to struggle to a 1-0 away loss to the New England Revolution, while the East's top side Union de Philadelphia, made it easy to deal with their home fans. to a 4-1 crush of the Chicago Fire.
Inter Miami retained the seventh and final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs with their 3-2 win over New York, thanks in large part to Alejandro Pozuelo's brace, with an assist from Gonzalo Higuain.
Austin FC came from 3-1 down at half-time to steal a 4-3 win over Sporting Kansas City, with Sebastian Driussi scoring the winner in the 94th minute, while Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne injected a Italian touch with a goal apiece to help Toronto FC defeat the Portland Timbers 3-1.
Struggling Colorado Rapids will be the happier of the two teams after a 1-1 draw against the Columbus Crew, and a first-half brace from FC Dallas' Jesus Ferreira was the catalyst for a 4 win -1 against the San José Earthquakes.
CF Montreal's Romell Quioto scored a penalty and missed a penalty in a 3-2 win over Houston Dynamo to bolster their second-place finish in the East, and a four-goal first half for Los Angeles Galaxy - including a goal and an assist for Chicharito - was more than enough to win the Vancouver Whitecaps 5-2.
Los Angeles FC showed why they are the best team in MLS this season by beating Charlotte 5-0 to take a six-point lead at the top of the Western Conference, one game less.
LAFC controlled the first half, creating 12 shots from Charlotte's four, but after 45 minutes the teams entered the locked half-time break at 0-0 as the attacks from the home team continued to falter in the final third.
Whatever advice was given during the break seemed to work, with Jesus Murillo finding the breakthrough in the 49th minute when he headed home with an elegant through ball from Diego Palacios. That opened the floodgates, with Jose Cifuentes making it 2-0 10 minutes later, and Cifuentes then became a distributor in the 73rd minute to set up Carlos Vela for 3-0.
Cristian Arango had fun putting home LAFC's fourth in the 76th minute, and an own goal in stoppage time from Charlotte captain Anton Walkes completed the rout.
Earlier in the day, it was Orlando City that moved into the top six in the Eastern Conference with a surprise 1-0 away win over the New York Red Bulls.
Uruguay's Facundo Torres scored the game's only goal in the 17th minute to make it five games without a win for the Red Bulls, who still sit fourth in the East.
In a back-and-forth, Cincinnati came back from an early 1-0 deficit to lead 2-1 at halftime thanks to goals from Brandon Vasquez and Brenner, only to be denied all three points by an Andrew Gutman equalizer in the 83rd minute.
The East's bottom side DC United continued to struggle to a 1-0 away loss to the New England Revolution, while the East's top side Union de Philadelphia, made it easy to deal with their home fans. to a 4-1 crush of the Chicago Fire.
Inter Miami retained the seventh and final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs with their 3-2 win over New York, thanks in large part to Alejandro Pozuelo's brace, with an assist from Gonzalo Higuain.
Austin FC came from 3-1 down at half-time to steal a 4-3 win over Sporting Kansas City, with Sebastian Driussi scoring the winner in the 94th minute, while Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne injected a Italian touch with a goal apiece to help Toronto FC defeat the Portland Timbers 3-1.
Struggling Colorado Rapids will be the happier of the two teams after a 1-1 draw against the Columbus Crew, and a first-half brace from FC Dallas' Jesus Ferreira was the catalyst for a 4 win -1 against the San José Earthquakes.
CF Montreal's Romell Quioto scored a penalty and missed a penalty in a 3-2 win over Houston Dynamo to bolster their second-place finish in the East, and a four-goal first half for Los Angeles Galaxy - including a goal and an assist for Chicharito - was more than enough to win the Vancouver Whitecaps 5-2.
What's Your Reaction?
