Defending MLS champion Los Angeles FC will attempt to halt a four-match winless streak when they host Western Conference leader St. Louis City on Wednesday night.
LAFC (9-6-6, 33 points) dropped three straight matches before playing the visiting San Jose Earthquakes to a 1-1 tie on Saturday.
Meanwhile, St. Louis City (12-7-2, 38 points) have ripped off three straight victories to open up a three-point lead over the second-place Seattle Sounders. LAFC and Real Salt Lake are five points back.
St. Louis City recorded a 1-0 road win over Toronto FC on Saturday. Aziel Jackson scored his first career MLS goal during his third start and Roman Burki registered his sixth clean sheet of the season.
Jackson’s goal came in the 50th minute. He took a left-footed shot and found the lower right corner.
“When I got the shot off, everyone was telling me ‘Shoot, shoot, shoot,’ but I had to just be composed with myself and just find the right opening because I wanted to be patient in that moment,” Jackson said. “And it felt super, like I didn’t hear anything around me. I felt just me and the ball, just like me in the park. It comes natural to my foot and I just believed in myself, and I was able to get the goal.”
The contributions from the 21-year-old Jackson have come in handy with forward Joao Klauss and midfielder Eduard Lowen both sidelined by quadriceps injuries. Both players have five goals, trailing only forward Nicholas Gioacchini (eight).
While LAFC did get a point, it was a disappointing result because Earthquakes goalkeeper Daniel was called for a hand ball outside the box in the 56th minute, forcing San Jose to play with just 10 men the remainder of the way. But LAFC were unable to take advantage.
LAFC’s lone goal came in the 37th minute on a penalty kick by forward Denis Bouanga, his 12th goal of the season. The only player with more goals in MLS is reigning MVP Hany Mukhtar (13) of Nashville SC.
Bouanga has scored 40 percent of the LAFC goals but doesn’t feel he is carrying the attack.
“I am trying to perform every single day and help my teammates,” Bouanga said. “This is not pressure for me.”
LAFC could use a boost from star forward Carlos Vela (six goals, five assists), who hasn’t scored a goal in the past three matches.
–Field Level Media
