LAFC star Vela suffers apparent knee injury in El Trafico defeat

Los Angeles FC forward and reigning MLS MVP Carlos Vela limped off with an apparent knee injury during Saturday's 2-0 defeat to rivals LA Galaxy.

Vela pulled up in the 57th minute and left the field shortly after.

LAFC head coach Bob Bradley described the injury as an "MCL-type situation."

The 31-year-old, who skipped the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando to be with his pregnant wife, hadn't played a game in five months.

"It's great to have him back, but ... Carlos didn't play well at all today," Bradley said. "He wasn't active, he wasn't dangerous. He looked like somebody who hadn't played a game in a long time."

It was a miserable night for LAFC, who lost to the Galaxy weeks after dismantling them 6-2 in Orlando. The Galaxy were also without Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, who missed the derby because of a calf injury.

Ethan Zubak, the homegrown player who replaced Chicharito in the lineup, latched onto Julian Araujo's cross to score the opening goal in the 26th minute. Sebastian Lletget doubled the advantage in the second half with an uncontested finish inside the penalty area.