Los Angeles FC forward David Martínez, right, takes a goal shot against the Columbus Crew during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. Columbus Crew won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Tomás Ángel, right, dibbles the ball against the Columbus Crew during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. Columbus Crew won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Nathan Ordaz points to the sky after scoring the only goal against the Columbus Crew during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. Columbus Crew won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga takes a goal shot against the Columbus Crew during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. Columbus Crew won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga reacts after Columbus Crew scores a goal during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. Columbus Crew won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC defender Jesús Murillo (3) is held back by Columbus Crew defender Steven Moreira during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. Columbus Crew won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, bottom purple, watches as the ball enters the net for a goal by Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernández during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. Columbus Crew won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Kei Kamara, front, kicks the ball against the Columbus Crew during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga, right, moves the ball past Columbus Crew defender Malte Amundsen during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC defender Jesús Murillo (3) kicks the ball chased by Columbus Crew forward Diego Rossi during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga (99) moves the ball surrounded by Columbus Crew defenders during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, back, makes a save against the Columbus Crew during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC defender Erik Dueñas, center, vies for the ball with Columbus Crew midfielder Sean Zawadzki, right, during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Ryan Hollingshead (24) looks down as the Columbus Crew celebrates forward Diego Rossi, not pictured, scoring a goal during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. Columbus Crew won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward David Martínez chases the ball defended by Columbus Crew defender Malte Amundsen during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. Columbus Crew won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Ilie Sánchez (6) kick the ball against the Columbus Crew during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. Columbus Crew won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC defender Omar Campos moves the ball across the pitch against the Columbus Crew during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. Columbus Crew won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LOS ANGELES — Attempting to rid themselves of the nightmares that followed a stifling defeat in the MSL Cup final last year at Columbus, the Los Angeles Football Club only added to their angst on Saturday.
The defending MLS champions walked into BMO Stadium and dominated from the opening whistle, delivering the first defeat for LAFC (13-5-4, 43 points) on its home turf for the first time in 2024.
Conceding more than three goals since their previous loss on May 4 at San Jose, LAFC was frustrated and rushed against Columbus, which secured their first regular season win in four meetings between them by a score of 5-1.
In fact, the game yielded the only league goals that Columbus (12-3-6, 42 points) has scored against LAFC — sans the pair they netted in the 2-1 championship performance last December.
As with that rainy night in Ohio, LAFC suffered from the start.
Columbus possessed the ball, pressed the ball, and made the game generally miserable for the hottest team in the league the past two and a half months as LAFC saw its 13-game unbeaten streak come to an ugly end.
The match brought Diego Rossi back to Exposition Park for the first time since the winger left for Turkey in 2021, but it was the Crew’s other former LAFC attacker who made the biggest impact in the opening half.
One of the three alterations to the Columbus starting lineup from the MLS Cup final, forward Christian Ramirez split LAFC defenders Maxime Chanot and Ryan Hollingshead deep in the box, freeing him up to drill a header by Hugo Lloris in the 38th minute.
Ramirez’s sixth goal of the season completed an 11-pass buildup, finalized by Max Arfsten’s cross, that provided a strong example of how effective and creative the Crew attack has been under head coach Wilfried Nancy.
Combined, Ramirez and Rossi scored three of the Crew’s five goals.
After halftime, Columbus poured it on their shell shocked hosts.
In the 56th minute, Colombian attacker Cucho Hernandez hit a beautiful curling shot from outside the box for his 12th goal of the year. Hernandez was given far too much space and time before his strike rendered LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris helpless.
At the hour mark, the Crew added to their advantage when Rossi converted in the box off a missed clearance from Eduard Atuesta. Rossi’s 8th goal of the year was his first versus the club that brought him to MLS in 2018, and he did not celebrate.
Ramirez added his fourth goal in four appearances against his former team in the 84th minute, immediately after LAFC defender Sergi Palencia was sent off with a second yellow for a hard tackle.
Nathan Ordaz got one back a minute later when he pounced on a rebound, but Columbus sealed the most lopsided home defeat in LAFC history — supplanting a 4-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City in 2021 — when Alex Matan produced his first goal of the season.
LAFC center back Jesus Murillo and Columbus midfielder Marino Hinestroza closed out the contest with red cards by referee Lukasz Szpala in the 97th minute.
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