Crew snap LAFC’s 13-match unbeaten streak

It finally came to an end for LAFC.

After 13 games of collecting points and establishing themselves atop the Western Conference, LAFC’s unbeaten streak ended on Saturday night, and it ended with a thud. Facing each other for the first time sine last December’s MLS Cup Final, the Crew immediately showed the quality that enabled to capture the MLS Cup, as they blitzed LAFC from the start and left BMO Stadium with the 5-1 win.

“A very poor performance tonight, from us,” LAFC head coach Steven Cherundolo said. “Really in all categories or phases, I don’t even want to describe it. Columbus was better in every moment of the game tonight. Hats off to them. They played a fantastic game and they deserved to win.”

Two former LAFC players, Christian Ramirez and Diego Rossi, scored three of the Crew’s five goals, with Ramirez getting the brace. The only consolation for LAFC (13-5-4, 43 points) is that they are still in first place in the West, as the Galaxy had fallen 2-0 to FC Dallas earlier in the day. LAFC won’t have much time to dwell on this loss, as they welcome Real Salt Lake, one of the teams they are tied on points for first place in the West, to Los Angeles for a Wednesday night showdown.

“Tough to come up here and talk about it afterwards but we’ve got a big game on Wednesday so it’s time to respond,” LAFC defender Ryan Hollingshead said

It was apparent from the start that Columbus was the better squad, as they neutralized the LAFC attack and created numerous chances themselves, though it wouldn’t be until the 39th minute that the Crew got on the board. Max Arfsten started things off with a pass to Cucho Hernandez, who dribbled forward, passed to Rossi, who then touched a ball back to Cucho, who then passed to Arfsten, who had snuck past the LAFC defense during the one-two between Cucho and Rossi. Arfsten touched into the penalty area, sent a left-footed cross into the six-yard box and an unmarked Ramirez headed a ball past keeper Hugo Lloris.

The Crew then blew the game open in the second half. The Crew doubled its lead in spectacular fashion, as Steven Moreira passed to Cucho, who was about 25 away from goal. That didn’t stop Cucho from launching a right-footed volley, and it turned out to be the perfect volley, as it curled left and went in at the far post net for a goal that will almost certainly warrant goal of the year consideration.

The floodgates soon opened thereafter. Moments after Mohamed Farsi hit the far post, The Crew shortly regained possession and Ramirez played a ball for Cucho. LAFC’s Eduard Atuesta cut off the pass, but the ball continued forward and right to the feet of his former teammate Rossi, and the former LAFC player fired a shot that hit off the far post but crossed the goal line for a 61st minute goal.

Things went from bad to worse for LAFC in the 83rd minute. It started in the 83rd minute when Alexandru Irinel Matan got ahead of Shane Palencia, and Palencia fouled him from behind and referee Lukasz Szpala issued Palencia a yellow card. Compounding matters for Palencia, he was already sitting on a yellow, ending his night and forcing LAFC to finish the match a man down. Columbus however poured more salt on the would in the 84th minute, as Matan sent a free kick into the penalty area, and Ramirez got enough of his head on the ball to guide it into the far post net for goal number four in the 84th minute.  LAFC was able to prevent getting shut out a minute later, as Nathan Ordaz scored to get LAFC on the board. The Crew however restored the four-goal advantage in the 88th minute, as Matan took a ball from Darlington Nagbe and slotted the shot past Lloris far post.