LAFC, Colorado Rapids play to scoreless draw

Could tired legs be setting in for LAFC?

One would not blame them if that turned out to be the case. Splitting its time between the MLS regular season and the CONCACAF Champions Cup meant that LAFC has not had a full week in between games since the last week of March, and just its luck, LAFC had a midweek game scheduled for Wednesday night at home against the Colorado Rapids before heading out to Minnesota for a Saturday afternoon match. LAFC will then resume CCC play next week against Toluca.

Nevertheless, LAFC is doing its best to soldier on. Wednesday’s match was a tale of two halves, with Colorado having the better chances in the first half, followed by LAFC turning the tables in the second half, and the two sides had to settle for the 0-0 draw at BMO Stadium.

Colorado was the better side in the first half. The Rapids had its first attempt in the 16th minute when Dante Sealy received a pass from Josh Atencio, went one-on-one with LAFC defender Eddie Segura, Sealy took the ball all the way to the end line, sent a ball into the six-yard box, the ball deflected off defender Aaron Long and went dangerously towards goal, but fortunately for LAFC, the ball hit off the post, and LAFC averted a potentially disastrous own goal. The Rapids had another good look in the 21st minute when Atencio lead a fast break, dribbling about 15 yards out, played a ball to Rafael Navarro, who deked Ryan Porteous, got a sightline and fired a left-footed shot towards goa, but keeper Hugo Lloris came up big, parrying the ball away from goal.

Colorado continued to perform in the first half. Rob Holding intercepted a pass from Denis Bouanga intended for Son-Heung Min and dribbled forward. Holding passed to Navarro, who then passed to Sealy, and he went one on one with Segura, saw a sightline and fired a dangerous left-footed volley towards goal, but again Lloris came up big, sending the ball over the crossbar.

LAFC finally got its offense going in the second half. LAFC got its first real chance at goal in the 56th minute when Mathieu Choiniere received a pass from Jacob Shaffelburg and fired a right-footed volley from about 25 yards out, the ball was out of the reach of keeper Zack Steffen, but the framework turned out to be Steffen’s best friend, as the ball went off the crossbar, bounced inside the six-yard box and Colorado sent the ball over the end line.

Shaffelburg had two golden opportunities to get LAFC on the board. Shafffelburg’s first chance came in the 65th minute, as Timothy Tillman led an LAFC break, played a ball to Shaffelburg, who touched into the penalty area and took a right-footed shot that got past Steffen, but missed the far post. A minute later, Shaffelburg again shot from distance, this time with his left foot, the ball took a dangerous deflection towards goal, but Steffen kept his focus, sending the ball over the crossbar.