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Real Salt Lake 2, LAFC 2: Los Angeles fail to hold onto lead, settle for shared points in Sandy

LAFC see lead slip twice in draw with Real Salt Lake
Trebor TracyBy 4 Mins Read
LAFC forward Heung-Min Son. Photo courtesy of Los Angeles FC

With the dreadful month of August now in the rearview, LAFC look to kickstart the fall with a better run of form as they prepare for what should be a postseason run. First, the team need to figure out their attack, and then find some consistency. For now, they need to get past Real Salt Lake, who themselves are fighting just for a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

It gets talked about every match, especially when the team you support is on the road, but the importance of the first goal can’t be overstated. LAFC wasted little time in securing the lead early on in the match. A great bit of defending to intercept a sloppy pass from Real Salt Lake led to LAFC quickly funneling the ball out to the wings where it found a streaking Denis Bouanga. The forward had just one defender between him and the goal and he took on his defender, created just enough space and unloaded a curler that was hit perfectly to get past the defender, and stay on the right side of the post as it hit the side of the net for the goal and lead in the 14th minute of the match.

It wasn’t long before more sloppy play led to another goal, but this time at the other end. After not being able to properly clear the ball out of danger, RSL forward Saba Lobjanidze was able to put his foot through the bouncing ball, and find the back of the net for the equalizer just four minutes after giving up the lead.

It wasn’t looking great for Los Angeles for a stretch, but they were able to make-up for giving up an equalizer so quickly with another goal in the first half. Once again taking on defenders along the wings, Denis Bouanga this time took the ball all the way down towards goal before laying it off the Heung-Min Son who nearly missed it as his effort hit the crossbar before landing on the goal side of the line, giving him a much needed goal and restoring the lead for Los Angeles in the 38th minute.

After conceding the goal, the home side dug their heels in and started playing a lot better. They slowly but surely gained control of the match and slowly but surely put pressure on Los Angeles. It took a while but in the 75th minute Real Salt Lake bagged their second equalizer of the match after another poor clearance was intercepted by the home side and a counter attack was immediately on. The initial effort was saved by Hugo Lloris, but RSL midfielder Noel Caliskan was there for the second bit of the cherry, smashing it home to bring us even again.

The goal only added even more energy to an RSL side that had been slowly gaining more and more control of the match late. LAFC had the best chance at a winner in the 87th minute when Heung-Min Son got loose and was in the clear, with plenty of space, and just the keeper to beat. Or so it seemed. He calmly made a move to get around the keeper and set up what looked like an empty net, but his strike was soft and slow, giving just enough time for RSL defender DeAndre Yedlin to come flying into frame to make the stop and keep it even at two goals each.

The match played out to a draw and they start September much like they finished August, without a win and disappointed with the result. They were up twice, and couldn’t see out the win. However, we did get a Bouanga goal, and a Sonny goal courtesy of a Bouanga assist so that’s definitely a positive. The draw puts LAFC in the thick of a race for top four and home field advantage in the playoffs. They now get ready for a quick turnaround as they play again Wednesday in what will be their only home match of September, taking on New York Red Bulls.

Thoughts on the draw on the road? Let us know in the comments below!

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