Cellar-dwelling Galaxy take aim at rival LAFC

Los Angeles FC will get what has traditionally been one of their tougher tests of the season when they play host to the rival Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday.

The Galaxy might be in the middle of one of the worst seasons in franchise history. However, even amid a historic winless streak to open the season, they still managed to forge a 2-2 tie when they met LAFC at home on May 18.

That draw came as the defending MLS champion Galaxy were on a run of 16 consecutive matches without a victory, the longest to start a season in MLS history.

The Galaxy (3-14-5, 15 points) are 3-2-2 since earning their first win of the season on May 31. They moved out of last place briefly but are back in the basement after a 2-1 home loss to Austin FC on Wednesday.

Joseph Paintsil scored the lone goal for the Galaxy, his fourth of the season to put him in a tie for second-most on the team behind Marco Reus (five goals, seven assists).

"Hopefully, (the defeat) is a reminder again that you can't go to LAFC and be in the middle ground intensity-wise," Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said. "You've got to show up with maximum intensity. Everybody knows that and looks forward to this game. They know what's at stake."

LAFC (10-5-5, 35 points) went 0-2-1 at the Club World Cup and did not advance out of group play but are 3-1-0 since. They earned a 1-0 victory on the road against Minnesota United on Wednesday.

Denis Bouanga scored on a penalty kick late in the first half for his team-leading 11th goal of the season. He also has seven assists.

"(Bouanga) can beat you with physicality, he can beat you with technique, on the dribble or as a pure finisher," LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. "For attackers, the season is always up and down, but we try to see the work in between, and for me, it has been very consistent over the past three years."

Playing without defender Aaron Long, who ruptured his left Achilles tendon last week and is done for the season, LAFC still managed to extend their scoreless streak to 340 minutes, going back to a June 29 loss against the Vancouver Whitecaps.