LAFC 6, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0 | 2020 MLS Match Recap

LAFC set an MLS record by scoring four goals in the first 14 minutes of the match, eventually cruising to an easy 6-0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Banc of California Stadium on Wednesday.

Bradley Wright-Phillips scored a brace as part of the explosive start to the match, which ensured the hosts would never have to worry about securing all three points.

LAFC got the party started just two minutes into the contest, as Dejan Jakovic beat his defender to a spot right in front of goal on a corner kick, heading home the service from Brian Rodriguez for the opener. Wright-Phillips then added a second just four minutes later, using a nifty spin move to put a gorgeous shot past Whitecaps goalkeeper Bryan Meredith after the ball popped to him inside the area.

The legendary striker added to the highlight reel just six minutes after that, cashing home an overhead goal after Diego Rossi had his original shot take a deflection off a defender. Wright-Phillips nearly made it a hat trick as LAFC capped off the record-breaking early onslaught in the 14th minute, but would have to settle for an own goal after a cross in his direction from Rodriguez deflected into the net and was deemed to have gone off Vancouver's Ranko Veselinovic.

LAFC wouldn't let up, as Rossi added a fifth in the 33rd minute, cashing home the finish from left side after some nifty combination play with Mark-Anthony Kaye, with another own goal off Vancouver's Andy Rose accounting for their final goal of the match in the 68th minute.

Goals

• 2' - LAFC - Dejan Jakovic | WATCH
• 6' - LAFC - Bradley Wright-Phillips | WATCH
• 11' - LAFC - Bradley Wright-Phillips | WATCH
• 14' - LAFC - Ranko Veselinovic (OG) | WATCH
• 33' - LAFC - Diego Rossi | WATCH
• 68' - LAFC - Andy Rose (OG) | WATCH

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: That's more like it from LAFC. The reigning Supporters' Shield winners have endured a well-documented rough patch of late, but this was much more reminiscent of the dominant attacking play they displayed in 2019 and that four-goal-in-14-minute sequence to start the match was a sight to behold. They'll need to string together a run of consistent performances similar to this to be declared fully back, but this was a good reminder of what Bob Bradley's side is capable of when they're on their game. 

MOMENT OF THE MATCH: You could go with either one of Wright-Phillips' goals, but the pirouette finish on this first one was a thing of beauty. 

MAN OF THE MATCH
: All hail BWP. One of the most prolific strikers in MLS history put this game to bed before it had even really started with his pair of highlight-reel first-half goals. He also set a new personal milestone, taking over 6th place on the all-time MLS scoring charts. In the process he bypassed LAFC assistant coach Ante Razov. BWP tied him with his first strike and surpassed him with his second (his 115th regular season goal):

Next Up

• LAFC: Sunday, September 27 vs. San Jose Earthquakes (10:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US)
• VAN: Sunday, September 27 vs. Portland Timbers (10 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; TSN2 in Canada)