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Road weary, but its undefeated start is still in tact.
It’s been quite the week for LAFC. Just three days removed from an emotional win over LD Alajuelense that sent them to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, LAFC made the long trek over 1,500 miles from Costa Rica to Austin Tx. to resume MLS play. Perhaps the jet lag might have slowed them down, but LAFC still got a point out of Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Q2 Stadium.
Not that both teams intended for it to be that way. LAFC was gifted a golden opportunity for a goal in the 24th minute. Shane Palencia played David Martinez into the penalty area, Austin defender Jon Bell dispossessed Martinez, but inadvertently passed to Son-Heung Min in the box, and Min immediately tried to capitalize, firing a shot at goal, but Bell’s teammate, Brendan-Hines-Ike threw himself in front of the shot, and managed to deflect it over the end line.
Austin FC actually did find the back net in the 63rd minute, but that goal was undone by VAR. It started when Facundo Torres sent a corner kick in to the penalty area and Myrto Uzuni one-timed a right-footed volley that got through the crowd of players and past keeper Hugo Lloris into the back net that supposedly gave Austin the lead. However, referee Rubiel Vasquez got the call from the VAR referee, and it revealed that the ball went through the legs of Ilie Sanchez, who was in an offside position, and the goal was waived off. Austin again came so close to a goal in the 79th minute, as CJ Fodrey lobbed a dangerous ball towards goal, Lloris got his left hand on the ball, but was also aided by the crossbar, as the ball bounced off and out of play.
LAFC did have its chances as well in the second half. It’s first chance came in the 49th minute, as Mark Delgado sprung Bouanga into the penalty area, Bouanga got the left-footed shot off, but the ball just missed the far post. LAFC came oh so close to a goal in the 85th minute, as Marky Delgado fired a right-footed volley from about 25 plus yards out, the shot caught keeper Brad Stuver flat-footed, but was bailed out by the crossbar, as the shot hit off the framework and back into play. LAFC had another shot as the match wore down, as Son capitalized on an errant back pass from Besard Sabovic and broke for goal. Son dribbled all the way into the penalty area, but Hines-Ike kept up with Son and made a timely tackle that enabled him to block the shot and Stuver collected the loose ball.
LAFC will get a long-deserved week off due to the FIFA Calendar, and will be back in action on April 4 as they host Orlando City.
