With just three matches left in the regular season, LAFC kickoff this final stretch on the road, taking on Sporting KC. After taking down their opponents for US Open Cup honors just a month ago, the home side will most definitely be out for a bit of revenge. Despite having playoffs already secured, the team still have a fight on their hands for the top spot in the conference, but also making sure those below them, stay that way.
The Starting XI for #SKCvLAFC#LAFC | @BMO_US pic.twitter.com/VAC4XvBJo2
— LAFC (@LAFC) October 5, 2024
In vintage LAFC fashion the team came out with their foot on the gas, looking to put this one away early. Usually the team to give up possession, they actually kept it even with Sporting KC throughout most of the first half. They looked like a team not trying to risk any sort of confidence building for their opponents. In the early stages of the match LAFC earned a penalty and it was Denis Bouanga who stepped up to the spot. The initial shot was, in all honesty, not well taken and was saved, but not caught by the SKC keeper. The rebound after the initial save was followed up by David Martinez who slammed it into the back of the net for the lead in just the 13th minute.
La Joya 💎
David Martínez is there to bury the rebound and give us the lead in KC 👊#SKCvLAFC 0-1 pic.twitter.com/cXBUM6wXq7
— LAFC (@LAFC) October 6, 2024
After the goal, LAFC spent much of the first half just being professional. They weren’t pressing for another goal too hard, but they also weren’t so relaxed as to let their guards down. Sporting finished the half with six shots with just one finding its target. However, as the first half ended, the black & gold caught the home side with one eye on the halftime break, and they made them pay. A quick counter led to Denis Bouanga putting in a perfect cross that went across the goal, either just out of the reach of the goalkeeper or just off his fingertips. Either way, the ball found Cristian Olivera waiting far post for the easiest goal scored of the season. A simple tap in after taking a touch to control the moment, doubling the lead for Los Angeles just as halftime arrived.
On a platter 🍽️
Cristian Olivera with the calm finish after a cross from Denis Bouanga.#SKCvLAFC 0-2 pic.twitter.com/Rn0qjn7TRg
— LAFC (@LAFC) October 6, 2024
The second half looked a lot more like the modern day LAFC, giving up all the possession in favor of focusing more on the defense as they looked for moments to strike on the counter. Through the first 20 minutes of the second half, Sporting KC kept 74% of the possession, but could only muster one shot that did not find its target. However, in that same time span, LAFC also managed just one shot that did not find its target. It was essentially LAFC parking the bus, without actually sending all their players into a defensive low block.
The nicest of moments came in the 69th minute when LAFC’s defender Aaron Long was left with too much space for far too long. To be fair, its not often you see a center back have a go at goal from just inside the box, but that is exactly what Long did, sending a rocket into the back of the net to extend the lead to three in the second half.
Make it 3⃣
What a finish from Aaron Long 🚀#SKCvLAFC 0-3 pic.twitter.com/yfcrKRYAba
— LAFC (@LAFC) October 6, 2024
LAFC saw out the rest of the match without much fight from Sporting whose closest goal came on an effort ruled offsides. The win keeps them in contention for that top spot in the Western Conference, but more importantly, the win tonight clinches home field for the first round of the playoffs for LAFC, meaning, at least for the first round, the team will enjoy the comforts of BMO for their best-of-3 series to open the postseason. Just two matches remain in the regular season for LAFC, first a trip to Vancouver, then back at home to close it out.
Thoughts on the win tonight? Leave a comment below!