Carlos Vela's first game in five months ended early on Saturday afternoon, with the Mexican superstar picking up a knock just before the hour mark that forced him off the field in LAFC's El Trafico showdown with the LA Galaxy.
Vela pulled up with the non-contact injury in the 57th minute, as he received a short pass while moving slowly down the right flank. The injury, and subsequent substitution for Adrien Perez, came right after the Galaxy took a 2-0 lead through Sebastian Lletget.
"We'll need at least a day or two to fully assess, but just before that play he took a shot, the shot was blocked," LAFC coach Bob Bradley said after the game. "So, that is usually an MCL-type situation so that's what we will look at in the next day or two."
It was the first game since March for the 31-year-old forward, who did not participate in the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando due to family reasons. The reigning Landon Donovan MLS MVP, Vela had two goals in his two games prior to Saturday's clash with the Galaxy. He's coming off a 2019 season that saw him set a new benchmark for individual performance in MLS with 34 goals and 15 assists in 31 games.
Despite Vela's absence at MLS is Back, goalscoring was largely not an issue for LAFC. They netted 16 times across five games, including a 6-2 demolition of the Galaxy and a 4-1 win over Seattle.
