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LAFC 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1: Bouncing back at home

A Bounga goal, another defender scores, and a fairly convincing performance to snap the skid at home
Trebor TracyBy 5 Mins Read
LAFC defender Sergi Palencia joins the ranks of goalscoring defenders for the club. Photo courtesy of Los Angeles FC

As if we didn’t know this already, LAFC at home just hits different. If the black & gold could play half as well on the road as they do at home, then this might be a team that never loses. That said, it’s always great when you can turn home field from advantage, to outright fortress, as LAFC have done over their time in the MLS. This past Saturday, that fortress welcomed San Jose Earthquakes as the team returned to MLS action after getting eliminated in the Champions Cup. After two match losing slide on the road, the team were at home and looking to right the ship. While not vintage LAFC, we did see a side to the squad we have missed all season, as the team returned to winning ways.

A big reason for this one not feeling like vintage win, in large part has to do with the first half. Let’s be honest with ourselves, that was a mid-off supreme on a Saturday night, and if the Dodgers weren’t being blown out by the Cubs that night, there might’ve been better options than that LAFC first half. The team finished the half with slightly more possession than San Jose (54%) but finished with only five shots, and none found the target. It very much felt like another one of those matches where the opponent would find a wacky way to score or find a way to unload the most insane goal you have ever seen to sneak the win.

Thankfully, this has always been a second half team, and that 45 very much felt like a vintage performance from the boys. It took 65 minutes to break the scoreless deadlock, but LAFC did so and did it in typical dramatic fashion. Denis Bouanga put together the original attempt on goal, that needed a great save to keep out,  but that save fell to defender Sergi Palencia who absolutely smashed it home for the lead.

Perhaps its the reinforced emphasis on defense that has the defenders for the club feeling themselves lately, or perhaps its the offensive struggles leading the backline group to pull a Thanos and do it themselves, whatever the case, Palencia joins the growing rank of scoring defenders for the club. That goal not only gave them the lead, but it also was the first goal for LAFC that the defender put into the back of the net. In the 86th minute it was Bounga who got the role of Johnny-on-the-spot. A brilliant read from midfielder Timothy Tillman got him the interception as San Jose was looking to play out the back, and immediately LAFC were on the attack. In one pass, Olivier Giroud got the ball and instantly took a shot at goal that was initially saved, only to be scooped up by Denis Bouanga who, while in stride, tapped it home to double the lead for Los Angeles.

As much as we lament the attack this season, and rightfully so, this was a match to laude the frontline for. This match was the first one this season that Olivier Giroud was felt out on the pitch. Sure, he didn’t score, but he impacted the match. He was finding a lot of space, getting in some key passes, drawing in defenders, he was looking like his prime self in a lot of ways. Then there’s Bouanga who was also putting in a great shift on the night, not just with the goal, but with his passing. For the first time this season, we got a glimpse of what the attack could look like when even halfway decent. If they can bottle that up and use it every match going forward while also improving and building on this performance, then this could be a team that’s looking at more than contention come end of the season.

Unfortunately, the clean sheet was not in the cards Saturday, as San Jose got their consolation goal near the end of the match. In stoppage time, the Earthquakes got the ball into the box but it looked like the LAFC defense had it covered with Josef Martinez swarmed by defenders. However, that swarm left Cristian Espinoza open, and Martinez nudged the pass to him for the look at goal. Espinoza finished with rocket that got passed Hugo Lloris to cut the deficit in half, but that’s all they would do with their only goal on the night.

The silver lining to getting eliminated from Champions Cup, is not only can the team fully focus on MLS, but they also get the more consistent rest that comes with a less congested schedule. We will see if that helps out the side as they now aim for other silverware to lift when the season ends.

Thoughts on the win at home? Leave a comment below!

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