LAFC international wrap: Rodriguez scores again for Uruguay; Zelaya scores for El Salvador

Los Angeles Football Club attacker Brian Rodriguez scored the winning goal in Uruguay’s 1-0 friendly win over Peru on Friday.

The 19-year-old scored the game’s only goal in the 17th minute, with a late run into the box on the far post to overload Peru’s defense.

This is the second straight game Rodriguez has scored for Uruguay, after tallying in a 1-1 draw against the United States in the last international window. Two goals in Rodriguez’s first three senior caps for Uruguay, not too shabby at all.

Now, the next frontier will be for Rodriguez to start scoring for LAFC. He joined on the final day of the summer transfer window, and has already become a regular in the starting XI, making seven appearances, five starts. But he’s yet to officially tally a goal or assist for the black-and-gold, and while it’s still very early and he’s young, it will be nice to see him get off the mark so that’s not hanging over his head. On the bright side, he’s clearly comfortable with Uruguay and for LAFC, every time he plays and scores for his country, his transfer value climbs, so all in all, not bad at all.

Uruguay and Rodriguez will take on Peru for another friendly on Wednesday.

Another LAFC international, forward Rodolfo Zelaya, scored for El Salvador in a 2-0 road win over Montserrat in Concacaf Nations League play. Zelaya started and scored the insurance tally in the 78th minute, before being subbed out in the 87th minute.

The goal was consequential for Zelaya, as he now has 22 with El Salvador, putting him alone in second place all-time in the scoring marks, behind only Raul Diaz Arce’s 39.

In other news, Zelaya openly told the local press that while he has a contract for 2020 with LAFC, he’s ready to go somewhere else since he’s not playing. He has also ruled out any more loan moves this year.

In other international action, LAFC defender Diego Palacios came off the bench for Ecuador in a friendly against Argentina on Sunday, losing 6-1.

Photo by Piotr Matusewicz/PressFocus/MB Media/Getty Images

Palacios came off the bench in the 66th minute, with Argentina already leading 3-1. Moments after he entered, Argentina scored again, and they added two more before the final whistle in a chastening loss, even if it was a friendly.

Palacios, also a late addition to LAFC’s roster this year, joined weeks after Rodriguez and has made two appearances, one start, to begin his MLS tenure. It appears his international duty is over, so he should be returning to his club soon.

What do you think? Leave a comment below!