LAFC beats Quakes

Walker Zimmerman scored two goals and host Los Angeles FC became the third MLS franchise to reach 50 points in its first season with a 2-0 win over the Earthquakes.

LAFC (14-7-8) is unbeaten in its past six matches. It joins the 1997 Chicago Fire (56) and 2017 Atlanta United (55) as the only teams to reach 50 points in an inaugural season. The win moves LAFC into a tie for second in the Western Conference with Dallas.

The Quakes (7-19-3) have the worst record in MLS. San Jose fired first-year coach Mikael Stahre last week, with assistant Steve Ralston elevated to interim coach.

ESPN reported that the Quakes have asked for permission to speak to Marc Dos Santos, 41, an assistant to LAFC head coach Bob Bradley, about their coaching job. Dos Santos coached the San Francisco Deltas to a league title in the now-defunct NASL in 2017.

 In other MLS matches, Alejandro Romero Gamarra scored in the 70th minute and the host New York Red Bulls all but knocked defending MLS champion Toronto FC out of playoff contention with a 2-0 victory . ... Julian Gressel had a goal and an assist to help host Atlanta United to a 2-0 win that snapped Real Salt Lake’s fourgame unbeaten streak . ... Romario Ibarra scored two goals and Minnesota United beat the visiting Portland Timbers 3-2 to snap a seven-game winless streak.

Europe: U.S. national team forward Christian Pulisic came to Borussia Dortmund’s rescue with a second goal in four days — this one with six minutes remaining — to salvage a 1-1 draw at Hoffenheim in the

German Bundesliga. Also, defending champion Bayern Munich won 2-0 at Schalke.

 English Premier League newcomer Wolverhampton spoiled former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson’s emotional return to Old Trafford with a 1-1 draw.

The most successful coach in British soccer history was back for the first time since undergoing emergency brain surgery in May.

Meanwhile, Liverpool moved alone to the top of the standings after beating Southampton 3-0 for a sixth win in six matches. Manchester City was second overall after routing Cardiff 5-0, but could be leapfrogged by Chelsea, which visits West Ham on Sunday.

 Video review helped Real Madrid beat Espanyol 1-0 and go to the top of the Spanish league.

Adam Lapierre / Associated Press Portland’s Crystal Dunn (19) heads the ball in a 3-0 loss to National Women’s Soccer League champion North Carolina.