With the five goal win officially behind them, LAFC took to the road again, this time heading to Colorado to take on the Rapids. The road hasn’t been kind to the black & gold to start the season, but they hope to change that with a win this afternoon. With two new signings to integrate, and a new spirit after the big win, which Los Angeles side would we see today?
Ready for work 💪 pic.twitter.com/Q77gg1Padg
— LAFC (@LAFC) March 30, 2024
LAFC know all too well the benefits of starting off fast. Up until recently, scoring early and often was kind of their thing. They got back to that this afternoon, wasting no time in taking the lead on the road. A corner kick looked to be a missed opportunity as it trickled away from goal, but Eduard Atuesta got on the ball and casually created a ton of space and unleashed a ridiculous shot from range. The shot curved around his own teammate, the keeper, and found the back of the net for his second straight match with a goal.
Atuesta from distance 🚀 pic.twitter.com/nPSEs4sAeW
— LAFC (@LAFC) March 30, 2024
The early goal really set the tempo for most of the first half. LAFC controlled the match, and were the aggressors, but Colorado did well to just hang around. They weren’t doing enough to be a threat, but doing just enough to keep LAFC from putting them away early. It would take most of the first half, but that pesky nature paid off in the 38th minute. Colorado’s Moises Bambito took full advantage of the corner kick, taking just the second shot on target for the Rapids, but securing their first goal, giving them the equalizer before the break.
Moise Bombito scores his first career MLS goal on his birthday! 🥳
It’s all level in Colorado. pic.twitter.com/0Xhr9D1ijx
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 30, 2024
The second half was set and LAFC were looking to put the Rapids away. After playing with their opponents a bit, LAFC were finally able to get their second goal of the match in the 76th minute. David Martinez got his first MLS goal in style, turning on the Sandevistan and slicing his way through two defenders, finding the room to shoot between another set of defenders, and getting it past the goalkeeper for the lead in the second half.
What a way to score your first-ever MLS goal, David Martínez! 😮💨@LAFC leads it late in Colorado. pic.twitter.com/WyssDD16ZZ
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 30, 2024
The Rapids once again proved how pesky they could be, not going away and equalizing once again in the 83rd minute. Djordje Mihailovic got a great look from a free kick opportunity and put on an excellent effort to equalize for the Rapids.
Free kick perfection from Djordje Mihailovic! 🎯
📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/msDfZQVJEc pic.twitter.com/7ETeNb6AXQ
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 30, 2024
Just minutes later, the LAFC goal scorer, David Martinez, was shown his second yellow of the match, giving him the red card, and sending him off for the remainder of the match. The man advantage opened the door for the Rapids to give us peak chaos with plenty of time left for them to find a winner. As you would expect, the soccer heavens provide in the 89th minute. Great passing broke down the LAFC defense and in the end it was Mihailovic once again in front of goal with a look and he put it away for the lead late.
Djordje Mihailovic strikes again to give the @ColoradoRapids the late lead! 💪 pic.twitter.com/riYqo1nTRk
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 30, 2024
While not the grind we expected to see from this match, it was in the sense that Rapids never really threatened, until they needed to. LAFC were unable to pull away, and the home side were always there to bring it level until a red card gave them the chance to take their only lead of the match. The loss, while close, is another painful dropping of points for Los Angeles, who will now have to really lock it in and focus as they get set to host the biggest match of the season. Next week, its rivalry time with a vastly improved LA Galaxy making the trip to BMO.
Thoughts on the loss today? Leave a comment below!