LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — Joseph Paintsil scored twice and the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy built a two-goal lead, but Los Angeles FC answered with two goals in a nine-minute span and salvaged a 2-2 draw at BMO Stadium. Paintsil opened the scoring in the 34th minute and doubled the Galaxy advantage in the 51st, putting the visitors in position to take control of the match. The goals arrived in a burst after a tight opening half-hour, and the Galaxy’s lead lasted only two minutes after Paintsil’s second. LAFC responded quickly, with Denis Bouanga pulling one back in the 53rd minute and Leo Walta equalizing in the 62nd. Neither side found a winner after Walta’s goal, leaving the teams level after a frantic sequence in the second hour. The draw kept LAFC unbeaten in this competition and left the Galaxy still searching for a second win of the season.

Paintsil’s brace was the central attacking performance of the match. He scored the first goal in the 34th minute, then added his second in the 51st, and he was replaced in the 73rd minute after giving the Galaxy their cushion. Robert Taylor recorded an assist for Los Angeles Galaxy before he was substituted in the 67th minute. For LAFC, Bouanga’s finish in the 53rd minute began the comeback, and Walta completed it in the 62nd before Walta was replaced in the 82nd minute. The sequence turned what had been a two-goal Galaxy lead into a level contest in front of the home crowd, and it changed the match’s momentum before the closing stages. Paintsil’s two goals came in 73 minutes, while Taylor’s assist came in 67 minutes, and Walta scored in 82 minutes before his exit.

The match grew more physical as the second half wore on. LAFC’s Ryan Porteous was shown a yellow card in the 55th minute, shortly after Bouanga’s goal. Los Angeles Galaxy’s Pablo Ruiz was booked in the 90th minute plus four minutes of stoppage time. LAFC made its first change at the 46th minute with Igor Jesus, then used Delgado and Porteous in the 66th. The Galaxy brought on Thommy and Taylor in the 67th, replaced Paintsil in the 73rd and used Glesnes in the 90th. LAFC later replaced Walta in the 82nd minute. Paintsil, Taylor and Walta were among the players replaced after their attacking contributions. The bookings and changes interrupted the flow of the second half, but neither team scored again.

Los Angeles FC remains unbeaten in this competition with one win, no losses and three draws, and its record across all competitions is identical. Los Angeles Galaxy is now one win, one loss and two draws in this competition, and its record across all competitions is also one win, one loss and two draws. The Galaxy had entered the match after a 2-2 draw with San Diego FC at home, a 2-0 win over Portland Timbers at home and a 6-2 loss at St. Louis City. LAFC had drawn 1-1 at New York City, beaten Austin FC 3-1 at home and drawn 1-1 with Vancouver Whitecaps at home in its previous three matches. LAFC entered with a draw, a win and a draw in its previous three matches, while the Galaxy had a draw, a win and a loss.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Los Angeles FC 3, Los Angeles Galaxy 2. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Los Angeles FC with an 85.7 percent probability to win. Los Angeles FC had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.25. The total score of 4 went under the over/under line of 3.5. Those projections favored a home win, but the match finished level.