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Is this the start of another long run of points for LAFC?
Unbeaten in its last three matches, but with the last two results being draws, LAFC could use three points in Saturday’s match against the Houston Dynamo, especially with its position in the Western Conference standings starting to matter just a little be more. LAFC was locked in at home against the Dynamo, as goals from Nathan Ordaz and Jeremy Ebobisse, combined with a stingy defensive effort carried LAFC to the 2-0 win at BMO Stadium.
LAFC currently sits tied on points with expansion club San Diego FC for fourth place in the conference, though both side are just two points back of Minnesota United for second place. LAFC also welcomed back head coach Steve Cherundolo to the sidelines, as he had missed last week’s match against St. Louis City FC due to getting a read card in the previous match against Portland two weeks prior.
“I saw a lot more complete performance on both sides of the ball, and I was very happy with the way we played tonight from the get go,” Cheruldolo said. “At no point did I feel we were in danger of losing this game.”
LAFC struck ten minutes into the match. Timothy Tillman played a ball out right to David Martinez, igniting an LAFC fast break. Martinez played Shane Palencia into the penalty area, Palencia played a short cross towards the six-yard box for Ordaz, keeper Jonathan Bond cut off the pass, but the ball still went forward into the six and Ordaz stuck with the play and slotted the ball into the back net at the near post.
“I get yelled at every day in practice to make it to that first post, so that’s what I did,” Ordaz said. “Thank God the goalie did what he did and I’m very happy with it.”
LAFC had to wait until the 79th minute to get a second goal, but it was worth the wait. LAFC defender Ryan Hollingshead deflected a ball from Griffin Dorsey and the ball went to Tillman, who sprung Bouanga down the left side igniting an LAFC counterattack. Bouanga played a ball to Ebobisse, who waited for a sightline, then got his chance, as he fired a left-footed shot just outside the penalty area that beat Bond near post to double the LAFC advantage, and basically put the match out of reach for the Dynamo.
“It was a complete performance all around,” Ebobisse said. “We wanted to take care of business back home (and) it was a complete performance from minute one to 95.”
Almost as impressive as the quality of the two goals was its defensive performance. While LAFC was getting off 18 shots against Houston, the defense held the Dynamo to just four shots on the night, and none of them threatened keeper Hugo Lloirs.
I was very happy with our defensive performance tonight,” Cherundolo said. “We wanted to be aggressive, we wanted to be on our front foot and cause problems, and we did a great job of doing that.”
LAFC now braces for a huge test next week, as they travel to British Columbia to face the first-place Vancouver Whitecaps next Sunday.
