LA Football Club Beats Philly 4-1

LAFC is on its way to enjoying the most successful inaugural season of any Los Angeles professional franchise in the city's long history. Also clearly emerging is a star named Dio, the 28-year old from Oslo, Norway who scored the very first hat-trick in the team's short history.

Adama Diomande scored three goals as LAFC powered its way through Philadelphia Union, 4-1, on Saturday evening, June 30 at Banc of California Stadium. The forward has scored seven goals in his first five games for the club while setting a new Major League Soccer record for the most goals after just five games.

Dio scored the very first goal of the game in the 25th minute on a beautiful stunt move finishing off with a running shot past Philly goaltender Andre Blake. The assist went to forward Latif Blessing. Dio scored his second goal in the 43rd minute on an easy put-away, creatively assisted by midfielders Mark-Anthony Kaye and Benny Feilhaber.

"It was a bit of a slow start from both teams. After my first goal, I thought that we were doing better, of course. We're not used

to playing when the sun is out and all that stuff. It was just great to get the first goal, and the second goal was a fantastic goal by the team," said Diomande.

However, LAFC's defense suffered a lapse two minutes later, cutting the lead to 2-1 at halftime. Ten minutes into the second half Dio made magic with his third goal on a point blank shot that ended in a collision. He needed short medical attention but remained in the game before being replaced by Shaft Brewer in the 75th minute.

Latif Blessing put the finishing touches with the final goal in the last minute of stoppage time on goalkeeper Blake's deflection off of a hard shot by LAFC forward Lee Nguyen. The win gives LAFC a 9-3-4 record with 30 points and currently in third place in the Western Conference.

"Not only the goals, but for me tonight was the first game where I start to see the quality of some of (Diomande's) touches, and the sharpness where he's able to take certain balls and move to make the right pass to the next guy," said LAFC Head Coach Bob Bradley.

"Another good game from Lee (Nguyen), in terms of the midfield. He's finding good places, being in sync with the other guys, he continues to move himself forward. It was good to get Mark-Anthony Kaye back in the team. He gives us, in the midfield, a little bit different dimension, which I thought against Philadelphia was important today."

The Los Angeles Football Club remains unbeaten at home with four wins and three draws. The team plays on the road against the Houston Dynamo this week, July 3, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas. LAFC will return home to host Orlando City SC this Saturday, 1:30 p.m. at Banc of California Stadium.