LAFC and FC Dallas both had interesting schedules this week. The two teams played against one another on Thursday, May 16 at Banc of California Stadium and met just three days later on Sunday, May 19, to play FC Dallas yet again, this time in Texas.
The first matchup at Banc of California prove to be the more successful of the two matchups as LAFC took advantage of the home field and crowd.
Nearly 10 minutes into the match, LAFC almost found the opening with a Carlos Vela free kick that rattled the top right side of the post.
It wouldn’t be until almost halftime, in the 39th minute, for LAFC to break the deadlock. A perfect pass from LAFC midfielder Eduard Atuesta found Carlos Vela in the box and with a perfect first touch to control the ball, Vela curled the ball past the keeper to give LAFC the lead.
Minutes later, LAFC nearly found their second passing the ball around at the top of the box before eventually finding Diego Rossi at the top of the box, whose shot was parried away by the FC Dallas keeper.
In the second half, super sub Adama Diomande came on for Christian Ramirez to provide some new life into LAFC’s attack.
In the 67th minute, Diomande nearly had his goal when Carlos Vela set up a beautiful ball by Latif Blessing in the box, but Diomande missed just wide.
In the 83rd minute, Diomande stole the ball from an FC Dallas defender near the edge of the box and then passed it to a supporting Rossi who put the ball away.
Initially an offside had been called on the play, but after reviewing the goal through VAR, the goal was deemed legitimate and LAFC had their two goal cushion with only a few minutes of the match remaining.
Carlos Vela had a chance to put the Black and Gold up 3-0 on a breakaway in the 89th minute, but opted to attempt and chip the keeper to no avail.
Three days later on Sunday, LAFC travelled to Texas to take on FC Dallas once again.
In the 29th minute, LAFC went down 1-0 when Brian Hollingshead rolled the ball past Tyler Miller after the defense had been dissected apart.
In the 35th minute, LAFC won a free kick about 30 yards out from goal, but a nice save from FC Dallas’ keeper Jesse Gonzalez kept Carlos Vela from being on the scoreboard in the first half.
Vela had another opportunity to put LAFC on the board in the first half when he won a penalty for being taken down in the box, but his attempt was saved once again by the FC Dallas keeper Gonzalez.
Just four minutes into the start of the second half, a streaking Carlos Vela was brought down hastily by FC Dallas defender Matt Hedges who was instantly shown a red card, leaving FC Dallas to finish nearly the entirety of the second half down to 10 men.
In the 80th minute, LAFC constant pressure finally paid off as they were awarded their second penalty of the match, after the ball hit the hand of an FC Dallas defender in the box. Carlos Vela was once again given the opportunity and did not fail this time to put the Black and Gold level at 1-1.
LAFC remain the team to beat in all of Major League Soccer with a league topping 31 points on the season.
They host the Montreal Impact at home on Friday, May 24 . A poignant rematch, as Montreal is responsible for LAFC’s only loss on the season thus far.
