With the season winding down, and the standings getting tighter than jeans in the mid-2000s, LAFC were on the road and in need of a win. While they were still sitting in the top five coming into this match, the team has been trending in the wrong direction as of late. Coming off a big loss at home to Messi led, Inter Miami, LAFC were looking for the three points against West Coast rivals, Portland Timbers.
When LA goes marching in. ✊#LAFC x @LAFC3252 pic.twitter.com/yDAtQYHR37
— LAFC (@LAFC) September 10, 2023
The struggles continued for an LAFC attack that has found it harder and harder to find the back of the net it seems. The side kept most of the possession in the first half, but only mustered three shots with none finding the target. The home side Timbers went into the halftime break with the lead after their goal in the 28th minute. A mishandled corner kick from John McCarthy left a second chance for Timbers’ Mabiala who headed it past the line for the lead.
The sloppy play from LAFC continued into the second half, and Portland made them pay for it again. After dispossessing Los Angeles, the Timbers put together some nice passing in the final third that ended with a Claudio Bravo goal to double their lead.
The build up and the finish! @TimbersFC double their lead!
Tune-in now on #MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV: https://t.co/MuJxjOqpnb pic.twitter.com/ixcfj2b06d
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 10, 2023
Through 80 minutes LAFC still controlled most of the match in terms of possession, but the eye test clearly showed Portland the better side on the night. The offensive struggles continued for the visitors, looking just to make it respectable as time dwindled away. The final whistle came before LAFC could find their goal in this one. The loss makes it three straight, and their fourth loss in their last five matches.
Things don’t get any easier for the black & gold either. The team will face-off against rivals, LA Galaxy, with matches against Western Conference leaders St. Louis, and MLS Cup Final opponents, Philadelphia Union, down the pipe. At this point, home field is the least of concerns for LAFC, who might be in a real fight just to make the playoffs come season’s end.
Thoughts on tonight’s performance? Leave a comment below!
1 Comment
Having suffered thru the last 2 games, esp LAFC vs Miami game, and the only impression I came away with was that Bouanga was trying overly hard to impress any European scouts who may have been watching the ‘Messi’ game. Ball hogging and showboating, often overlooking his own teammates who were wide open and in front of goal, or was I the only one seeing this?