LOS ANGELES — The mood was somber in the postgame press conference after Los Angeles Football Club’s first home match with the rival L.A. Galaxy. The teams drew 2-2 in a match that LAFC held a two-goal lead in the 80th minute, and it would prove to be the closest the expansion club would come to a victory over the Galaxy in 2018.



But when coach Bob Bradley sat down to begin his postmatch assessment, the result was not at the forefront of his mind.



“I’m in a bad mood,” Bradley began. “I’ll start with the worst news of the night: Mark-Anthony Kaye has fractured the inside part of his ankle. He’ll need surgery. So that has had me in a bad mood since halftime.”



Kaye’s injury in the 20th minute was the most consequential moment of that July 26 game because it was the last time he took the field in 2018.



Under Bradley, Kaye had made huge strides and was well on his way to being an important part...