LAFC comes from behind to defeat Sporting KC 3-1

LAFC #11 Jose Cifuentes (Midfielder) is being challenged for the soccer ball by a Sporting Kansas City player at Banc of California Stadium. Photo by Melinda Meijer/T.G.Sportstv1.

LOS ANGELES, CA - LAFC comes from behind to grab three points and stay on top of the Western Conference with a 3-1 win over Sporting Kansas City on Sunday at Banc of California Stadium.

Ismael Tajouri-Shradi and fellow substitute Jose Cifuentes scored second-half goals to seal the victory for the Los Angeles Football Club.

"I was quite pleased with the energy and the mentality of the guys to not accept anything less than three points today," LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said.

LAFC (5-1-1) trailed 1-0 in the 38th minute after Diego Palacio scored his own goal. Sporting KC's Johnny Russell grabbed a turnover and went up the right side toward the goal. His shot went off Palacio and into the back of the net.

Six minutes later, LAFC's Cristian Arango scored the equalizer on a header off a deflection.

A free-kick outside of the box hit a goalpost and came back out. Mamadou Fall sent the ball back in on a header before Arango sent in the deflection.

"I would have liked for the FK to go in, but I got into the box, and I was happy to get the goal," Arango said.

LAFC took a 2-1 lead in the 70th minute with a sensational goal by Tajouri-Shradi. Palacio sent a ball over the top, and Tajouri-Shadi sent in the shot off one bounce.

In the 78th minute, Cifuentes weaved his way through the defense and sent in a shot past Sporting KC goalkeeper Tim Melia to seal the victory for LAFC.

Sporting KC lost their third straight game and have not won any games on the road this season. Four of their six losses have been by multiple goals.

LAFC will host Orange County SC on Wednesday in a U.S.Open Cup match. Sporting KC's next game will be on Saturday, April 23, against Columbus.