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LAFC came into Saturday’s match suddenly facing some adversity.
Playing its third match of the week, and with a massive first leg of its CONCACAF Champions League matchup against Toluca set to begin Wednesday, LAFC decided to juggle its lineup to keep players fresh for Wednesday’s match. Son Heung-Min did not make the trip to the Great Lakes State, while regular starters such as Shane Palencia and Ryan Porteous started the match on the match, though Porteous had to come into the match just nine minute in when Aaron Long pulled up lame.
Still, LAFC summoned the resolve that enabled them to start the season with just one loss. David Martinez got LAFC going with an early first half goal and the defense did the rest, withstanding pressure from Minnesota and as a result, left Allianz field with the 1-0 win.
LAFC jumped ahead in the match 10 minutes. In, Martinez slowly dribbled forward, played a ball to Stephen Eustáquio, who then played a ball to Timothy Tillman, who then touched a ball into the penalty area, Martinez beat Bongokuhle Hlongwane to the ball, Martinez then took a shot at the left side of the six-yard box and the shot beat keeper Drake Callender far post.
Minnesota had several chances to answer the Martinez goal. its first best chance came in the 28th minute, as James sent a corner kick into the six, Jefferson Diaz sent a point-blank header at goal, perhaps out of the reach of keeper Hugo Lloris, but Tillman was at the right place at the right time, as he stopped the ball at the goal line and Artem Smoliakyov cleared the ball out of the penalty area.
Another chance for Minnesota came in the 46th minute, as James launched a dangerous left-footed volley from just outside the penalty area at goal, but Lloris calmly collected the ball. Three minutes later, Minnesota had another chance, as James sent another corner kick into the penalty area, Nectarios Triantis touched a ball towards the far post, Eddie Segura stopped the ball at the goal line, but his clearance attempt went off teammate Ryan Porteous and the ball remained in the box, but ultimately, LAFC was able to clear out the danger.
