We are straight up not having a good time. It seems as though the poor form and struggles that plagued LAFC during the Club World Cup, has followed them back home to Los Angeles. In what was supposed to be the match that served as the prime opportunity to get the team back to winning ways, ended up being another disappointing showing that ended in an upset to a very shorthanded, and struggling Vancouver Whitecaps side.
Fulltime. pic.twitter.com/82GZNWT3hv
— LAFC (@LAFC) June 30, 2025
This was one of those matches that was hard to watch. Not so much for the end result, but more so for how the football looked on the day. Neither side really dominated, nor looked more than just barely competent. LAFC did dominate possession in the first half with 65% of the ball, but as we have said far too many times this season, what good is possession if nothing is being done with it. In that first half LAFC managed six shots with just one finding the target, they did put together 287 passes on 91% success rate, but only earned one corner all half. To be fair, though not something black & gold fans wanted to see, Vancouver proved you only need on shot to get a win.
It was the visitors who scored the match’s first and only goal, which came pretty early in the meeting. Emmanuel Sabbi started, and finished the run with a well-timed lob pass that send his teammate running behind the LAFC defense. When it looked like the defense was closing in, Vancouver put it into the box with a solid pass that found Sabbi on the run, who needed just one look to finish it for the goal.
Sabbi starts it. Sabbi finishes it. 😱
📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/AoF0wGMmaz pic.twitter.com/dMBBRbXL7Z
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 30, 2025
Not only would that end up being the only goal on the night, but painfully for LAFC, it was the only shot on target Vancouver would have all match. That’s it. Just one look, one shot, is all it takes in this sport, and Whitecaps showed the hosts what true efficiency looks like. It’s not like LAFC were that much better, finishing the match with just three shots on target, two of which came in the second half as the team did all they could to save the result, at the very least.
In fairness to them, LAFC did play a lot better in the second, as they have done all season. This is definitely a second half team, but that also puts them in these tough positions when they give up a goal early on. The team was able to earn more corners (3) in the second half, still had a solid showing passing, and maintained more possession, but they couldn’t find that finishing touch to get an equalizer. “Offensively it looked impatient, it looked rushed” said LAFC Head Coach Steve Cherundolo when speaking to media after the match. “It looked a little un-LAFC like as far as positional integrity goes. We have a way of attacking here, a way of doing things. Yes, we also have individuals and we count on their creativity at certain times, but it can’t lose the balance, and you can’t become too individual and I think our attack looked very individual tonight.”
The loss snapped what was a nine match unbeaten run in MLS action, for LAFC, but more worrisome, it was their third loss in their last four matches with all of them ending in shutouts for the opposition. Now, the team turn their focus on figuring out their problems on the road as they get set to make the short trip to Texas, to take on Austin FC. Luckily for the black & gold, it will be the first of just two matches the team play away from home in the entire month of July, making this a crucial stretch for the club as they not only look to get back on track with the results, but look to stop the slide and get climbing back up the standings as the postseason looms on the horizon.
Thoughts on the loss at home? Leave a comment below!