LAFC, Real Salt Lake go back and forth in 2-2 draw

Despite an eight-point gap in the Western Conference standings, Real Salt Lake still managed to put up a fight against the higher-ranked LAFC on Saturday night.

Even as LAFC got big performances from its dynamic duo of Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-min, RSL did not buckle, as they equalized twice in the match and a heroic defensive play from MLS veteran DeAndre Yedlin prevented LAFC from sneaking out of America First Field with the win, as LAFC eventually had to settle for the 2-2 draw.

Saba Lobjanidze and Noel Caliskan found the back net for Real Salt Lake (8-9-5, 29 points) who with the result pulled to within a point of San Diego FC for the final playoff spot in the West. As for LAFC (10-7-7, 37 points) they are now locked into a three-way tie with FC Dallas and St. Louis City FC for third place.

LAFC got on the board first in the 14th minute. Mathieu Chioniere intercepted a pass from Lukas Engel, passed to Son, who then sprung Bouanga with a ball down the left side. Bouanga outraced Philip Quinton to the ball dribbled into the penalty area, made a cutting move inside and curled a right-footed shot that sailed past keeper Rafael Cabral far post to stake LAFC to the early lead.

Salt Lake however didn’t take long to respond, getting the equalizer just four minutes later. RSL held the ball deep inside LAFC”s half of the field, Caliskan kept the play alive by sliding to move the ball forward, the ball got to Lobjanidze, who then touched past Nkosi Tafari and Lobjanidze fired a right-footed shot past keeper Hugo Lloris just outside the six-yard box into the back net to level the match.

LAFC pushed back ahead in the 38th minute. Marky Delgado intercepted a ball, passed to Tyler Boyd, who then sprung Bouanga again down the left side. In almost the same scenario as the sequence that resulted in LAFC’s first goal, Bouanga outraced Quinton and took the ball into the penalty area, only this time, Bouanga chose to pass, as he found Son just outside the six-yard box and Son one-timed a left-footed shot, Cabral got a piece of the ball, but not enough to prevent the ball from crossing the goal line for a goal that put LAFC back in front.

LAFC took the lead into the second half, and held the lead for most of the half, but RSL was gifted a response in the 75th minute. Aaron Long cleared a ball out of the penalty area, but his clearance went right to Colin Guske, who right way passed to Aiden Hezarkhani, who took the ball inside the 18-yard box, fired a shot that was stopped by Lloris, but he left a rebound chance inside the six and Caliskan came in a buried the rebound chance to level the match one last time.

LAFC however had one last chance to escape Utah with all three points, but the hustle of the veteran Yedlin prevented a late goal. It happened in the 87th minute, as Ryan Hollingshead forced a turnover, then sent a left-footed ball forward, Son timed his run perfectly to get behind the RSL defense, Son dribbled into the penalty area, rounded Cabral, leaving an open net and Son chipped a right-footed shot towards goal, but Yedlin never gave up on the play, as he sprinted back and slid to send the ball over the end line.

LAFC will look to bounce back on Wednesday night, as the return home to face the New York Red Bulls.

 

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