MLS is Back: Top 5 performances from Matchday Two

MLS, LAFC, Diego Rossi (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MLS, LAFC, Diego Rossi (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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REUNION, FLORIDA – JULY 18: Diego Rossi #9 of Los Angeles FC scores a goal on a penalty kick in the first half against the Los Angeles Galaxy during the MLS Is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on July 18, 2020, in Reunion, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
REUNION, FLORIDA – JULY 18: Diego Rossi #9 of Los Angeles FC scores a goal on a penalty kick in the first half against the Los Angeles Galaxy during the MLS Is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on July 18, 2020, in Reunion, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

1. Diego Rossi

Four goals. In El Trafico. Knowing a win was needed. Diego Rossi did it all for LAFC this week.

The Black and Gold came into their Group F matches with cross-city rivals LA Galaxy knowing that they had to win to realistically keep hopes alive of qualifying in the top two from the group, and having to avoid the possibility of making it through as a wild-card.

https://twitter.com/LAFC/status/1284958188819877890

The reigning Supporters’ Shield champs had fallen behind after an own goal gave the Galaxy the early lead, but a 13th-minute spot-kick saw Rossi open his account for the evening, in what would be a history-making performance.

He got his second to equalise again just before the break, cancelling out a Cristian Pavon penalty, before Bradley Wright-Phillips gave LAFC their first lead of the match ten minutes into the second half.

Rossi then completed his hat-trick on a wonderful breakaway counter-attack but then was time for more for the Black and Gold. Mohamed El-Munir made it 5-2 in the 80th minute before the little Uruguayan scored his fourth goal of the game in stoppage time to round out a 6-2 victory.

The LAFC forward, who has filled the hole left by the absent Carlos Vela immaculately, became the 13th player to score four goals in an MLS game. He also had an assist in the game, meaning he became the first player to have a hand in five goals in a game on two separate occasions.

Next. MLS is Back: Power Rankings after Matchday Two. dark

A record-breaking night for the Uruguayan as he almost single-handedly helped LAFC into the knockout stages.