Draw knocks LAFC out of first place in West

In a key Western Conference showdown at BMO Stadium on Wednesday night, LAFC and Real Salt Lake relied on some good fortune to find the back net.

LAFC took advantage of some shaky goalkeeping to get an early opening goal from Cristian Olivera, but a timely deflection enabled RSL to get back in the match, and the two teams ended up playing to a standstill with the 1-1 draw.

“I was not happy with our performance,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “Was it a little better than the other night? Yeah. But we were not happy with our performance. There’s still a lot of things that we need to improve on and we will do that in training.”

The result was of significant consequence for LAFC (13-5-5, 44 points),  as this result combined with the LA Galaxy edging out the Colorado Rapids just a few blocks away meant that the Galaxy now occupy the top spot in the Western Conference.

LAFC caught a break just five minutes into the match. Eduard Atuesta sent a long ball forward, Olivera got behind Brayan Vera to chase it down, RSL keeper Zach MacMath came off his line and actually out of the penalty area and actually beat Olivera to the ball, but MacMath mis-hit the ball, which allowed Olivera to get to the ball, and with MacMath scrambling to recover, Olivera took advantage, slotting the ball into the open net to give LAFC the early lead. MacMath nearly made a similar mistake in the 25th minute when again he left his line and the penalty area to beat Denis Bouanga to a ball, which he did, but his cleared ball found the feet of Mateusz Bogush, who tried to immediately capitalize, as he launched a long volley towards the open net, but MacMath recovered in time to send the ball over the framework.

Vera soon found redemption for RSL in the 33rd minute. RSL had a free kick from about 36 yards out, Vera powered the left-footed shot, the ball deflected off Ilie Sanchez and snuck past keeper Hugo Lloirs at the left post to level the match.

“That’s just one of those fluke, unlucky goals,” LAFC defender Aaron Long said. “There is nothing really to say about that. It’s a powerful shot – just a deflection.”

RSL came out aggressive to start the second half, as they had three good looks at goal in just the first two minutes, but a shot inside the penalty area by Braian Ojeda after a buildup was saved by Lloirs, chance by Diego Luna after dribbling through traffic was deflected and went over the end line for a corner kick, and a third chance carried out nearly the same sequence that RSL scored its goal, as Vera had a free kick, this time from a closer angle, Vera’s free kick deflected off an LAFC defender, but this time, the shot missed the framework, though not by much.

LAFC however soon went back on the attack. Olivera deked Bode Hidalgo in the 52nd minute and broke for goal. Hidalgo dribbled down the left side into the penalty area, then played a ball to Kei Kamara, but he couldn’t get enough of a touch on the ball for a threatening chance, and instead sent a ball over the end line. LAFC’s best chance of the second half came in the 73rd minute, as LAFC had a free kick from 20 yards out, Atuesta sent a free kick through the RSL wall right at goal, MacMath parried the ball away from goal, but LAFC recovered, and Maxime Chanot sent a cross into the six-yard box and Kamara leaped and headed a ball, but it missed the near post.

“We had chances to win but we lacked clarity and idea,” Olivera said. “I think overall patience as well. We
needed more patience. We fell into their game and kicked long balls. We couldn’t focus on our game, which is possession, touching and looking for those opportunities.”

LAFC will have one more MLS match before turning its attention to Leagues Cup play, as they travel to Seattle to face the Sounders on Saturday night.