LAFC draws against Vancouver in Tamarit’s head coaching debut

It was all there for LAFC.

A new head coach on the sidelines, several tweaks to the lineup and being up a man for most of the match against a Vancouver Whitecaps team playing without its star forward Thomas Muller, one would think that LAFC would take advantage of all of that to get a result that could put them back into play for a top four seed in the Western Conference.

While it didn’t lose on Saturday night, and every point earned at this stage of the regular season should be considered a plus, and they are still alive for said top four seeding, but the 1-1 draw at BMO Stadium surely had to feel like somewhat of a lost opportunity for LAFC in the debut for interim head coach Xavier Tamarit.

“We didn’t have the consistency on what we wanted to do, but I knew that,” Tamarit said. “It’s something that is normal when you have just one week for work.”

Vancouver surprised LAFC with an opening goal in the 43rd minute. The Whitecaps worked the ball around, then finally, Edier Ocampo crossed into the penalty area, Larraz headed a ball right goal, keeper Hugo Lloris made the stop, but left a rebound inside the six-yard box and Larraz came in and buried the rebound chance into the upper net to stake the Whitecaps to the lead just before the halftime break.

LAFC didn’t have to wait long for a response. Tamarit did his best to conjure a response, subbing in Igor Jesus for Mathieu Choiniere, but it was Bouanga who equalized for LAFC just 39 seconds into the second half, as Sergio Vasquez passed out wide to Sergi Palencia on the right side, Palencia crossed into the penalty area and Bouanga leaped and headed a ball past keeper Yohei Takaoka far post to level the match. LAFC thought they had taken the lead when Igor Jesus sent a long ball into the penalty area to Palencia, who then crossed into the six and Bouanga headed a ball past Takaoka near post, but the goal was waived off, as Bouanga was offside when Jesus sent the initial ball into the penalty area.

“We had some very good moments without the ball and with the ball, and we had some bad moments in both, also,” said Tamarit. “When you change concepts, it’s like the most difficult to have continuity in the actions, so sometimes we were very close to what we are asking them right now, and sometimes we were a little far from the team we are trying to be.

Looking to shake things up and perhaps establish his own imprint, Tamarit made some big changes to the starting 11. Tamarit moved Bouanga from the left wing to the center forward position, Son Heung-Min moved from the CF position to the Central Attacking Midfield spot and went with a double pivot with Choiniere and Sergio Vasquez, who was making his debut for the Black and Gold.

“It’s different for me,” Bouanga said of the position switch. “Everyone knows I love playing the side, but for helping the team, I can play as a 9 because I have the quality to take the space, to score the goal. We don’t have a real 9. Yes, I help the team in this position. It’s not my best position, but I need to follow the instructions.”

Things were looking even better just six minutes in, when Vancouver’s Triston Blackmon was red-carded when he pushed Jacob Shaffelburg from behind and because there were no other defenders in front of Shaffelburg, referee Guido Gonzales Jr. made the decision to give a straight red to the former LAFC defender on the basis of denying Shaffelburg a goal scoring opportunity. On the ensuing free kick, Son sent the shot right at goal, but Takaoka calmly made the save.

Despite being a man down, Vancouver still found ways to create goal scoring opportunities. The Whitecaps’ best chance at goal came in the 24th minute, as Larraz sent a ball forward, Ryan Gauld just manage to beat LAFC defender and fellow Scottish countrymate Ryan Porteous to the ball and Gauld’s pass sprung Brian White for a chance at goal. White dribbled into the penalty area and took the right-footed shot, but Lloris made the save.

LAFC is busy this week, as they host Austin FC on Wednesday night, followed by a 3,000 trip to the Bronx to face New York City FC.