LAFC storms back to earn draw vs. CF Montreal

Olivier Giroud scored the tying goal in the 77th minute shortly after entering as a substitute as the visiting Los Angeles FC rallied to extend its unbeaten streak to eight games with a 2-2 draw over struggling CF Montreal on Saturday night.

Giroud scored his second career MLS goal by being in the right spot at the right time for an easy tally.

LAFC sent a long pass from well outside of the box to the area near the net, but the ball caromed off Montreal defender Dawid Bugaj’s foot and to Giroud. Giroud was open in the left side of the box and converted the easy tap-in five minutes after replacing Jeremy Ebobisse.

Marco Delgado also scored in the 38th as LAFC (6-4-5, 23 points) improved to 4-0-4 in its unbeaten streak and earned its third 2-2 draw in the past four matches.

Giroud nearly willed LAFC to the win but was denied when Jonathan Sirois made a diving stop of his header in the 80th. Giroud was also denied on a header in the 88th.

Giacomo Vrioni and Prince Owusu scored in the opening 22 minutes but Montreal (1-9-5, 8 points fell to 0-3-3 at home and blew a two-goal lead by allowing LAFC to control possession for 58.4 percent of the contest.

LAFC goalie Hugo Lloris made five saves while Sirois stopped seven shots.

Vironi opened the scoring by staying with the play in the center of the box in the fifth minute After Owusu’s shot was blocked, Vrioni got the ball near the net in the center of the box, shook off Sergi Palencia, made a slight spin move and lifted the ball into the right corner while falling to the ground.

Montreal took a two-goal lead 17 minutes later when Owusu sent a left-footed shot into the middle of the net on a penalty kick after Bugaj was fouled by Denis Bouanga.

LAFC cut the deficit to 2-1 by halftime when Delgado flicked in a right foot shot from the center of the box off a feed from Nathan Ordaz and before Vironi could defend the play.

–Field Level Media