The short turnaround hits Los Angeles yet again, as LAFC are already back in action. Luckily they are one, at home, which is always great considering how well they defend BMO. Also, this will be the last match for the team before they get a short break for International action, with the team not playing again until June 15th. Tonight, the team welcome Western Conference foe, FC Dallas. The visitors will look to avoid falling victim to the city sweep, after losing to LA Galaxy their last time out.
📢 ¡Vamos a Ganar! 🌈 pic.twitter.com/BKFuo89Qp4
— LAFC (@LAFC) June 2, 2024
LAFC celebrated the start of Pride month with tonight’s match, looking to cap off Saturday night festivities with three points to the good. Possession in the first half was split right down the middle with both sides keeping 50% of the possession to start off the match. However, that was the only area these two were even. FC Dallas were in survival mode early and all throughout the first half. LAFC put the pressure on, getting off 12 shots with five of them finding their target. The visitors made it difficult to break down their attack at times, but for the most part it was down to Los Angeles not quite finding the timing or the right angle to get the ball over the line for the lead.
The teams went into the break scoreless and even though the final 15 minutes of the half were spicy. Cards were out as players were starting to get physical. LAFC were getting closer to scoring, and FC Dallas were getting desperate in defense. They did an excellent job of keeping the black & gold scoreless and of avoiding red cards. Going into the half all square was a massive win for them. For LAFC, a win tonight would give them some breathing room from the group of teams currently on the same amount of points as them.
FC Dallas improved on their possession in the second half, controlling more of the ball to start off the final 45. Unfortunately for them, they didn’t do much with it, and LAFC continued to find space on the counter attacks to get more looks at goal. Despite the bunches of shots, FCD were doing decent enough to keep LA out from in front of goal for an even easier chance at the lead.
In the 73rd minute LAFC finally broke through to get that better look with some brilliant passing. Bogusz pulled the strings as he so often has this season, putting through an excellent pass that was weighted perfectly as it found Denis Bouanga in stride after he himself timed the run to perfection. What it all created was a one on one between Bouanga and the keeper, with the former slotting it home to continue the impressive run of goal contributions.
💥 Denis does it again! #LAFCvDAL 1-0 pic.twitter.com/Upkvzl9Ft8
— LAFC (@LAFC) June 2, 2024
In the end the goal was enough to see out the win and get the three points. The win at home makes it seven on the run unbeaten for this side as they also get a little bit of separation between them and those below. Withing fingertip reach of the top spot, LAFC look like their old selves as of late. Going into the break, they have a chance to recover, get and stay healthy, and continue to fine tune the tactics to further increase their points total before the even longer Olympic break in the summer.
Thoughts on the win at home? Leave a comment below!