Perhaps it was the fact that LAFC has already clinched a spot in the post season, or perhaps it was upon hearing the news that fan-favorite Adama Diomande admitted himself to MLS’ substance abuse clinic, leaving an indefinite timetable for his return, or perhaps it just simply wasn’t their night.
The Black and Gold needed a win to get the bad taste out of their mouths after an overall unsavory outing against the LA Galaxy. They would find no easy opponent in Atlanta, however. The Five Stripes, as they are known colloquially, are already a mainstay in MLS despite being just a year older than LAFC, winning a championship in just their second season and setting a new standard for expansion teams across Major League Soccer, a feat that LAFC is undoubtedly trying to reproduce this season.
If there was ever a season defining match for a club, it would be the one played between LAFC and Real Salt Lake this past Thursday Nov. 1.
Having already clinched a playoff berth, LAFC looked remain vigilant in their first season as an expansion team. The match, which ended in a 2-2 draw was all LAFC needed to break the expansion team record with 57 points in an inaugural season. A great achievement overshadowed by how the match unfolded.
On September 22, third-place LAFC faced off against the San Jose Earthquakes, sitting in last place in the West. With only four games left in the regular season, and the playoffs right around the corner, each match is a must win with the standings so tight.
On Saturday, September 15, LAFC returned to Banc of California stadium. After a two-week international hiatus, LAFC was back in action against the New England Revolution.
With the MLS playoffs are right around the corner and with the regular season coming to a close, there is little time to lose focus.
On Wednesday, LAFC played Real Salt Lake, a team far too close for comfort in the standings for LAFC, sitting just a point behind at the start of the game. The biggest question surrounding this game was whether the spectators could expect the LAFC of old, prone to dominate their opponents in the midfield and finishing games off with clinical precision, or the LAFC of recent weeks: a team that starts games out strong but folds somewhere in the middle and concedes goals late in the match. Luckily for LAFC fans, the former showed up ready to play, beating Real Salt Lake 2-0 with a brace from recent LAFC signee and hometown hero Christian Ramirez in his full LAFC debut.
There seems to be a recurring theme developing in the late stages of LAFC matches. A team that regularly dominates possession, shots on target, corners and other important statistics of the game has trouble finishing off games. Last Thursday evening, LAFC hosted their crosstown rivals the LA Galaxy for the first time at Banc of California Stadium. The two team’s previous engagement was their first ever matchup, a game that has become known as “El Tráfico,” a play on the phrase “El Clásico,” which is ascribed to many a fierce soccer rivalries (derbies) around the world (most notably Real
The Black and Gold were back in action at home on Sunday, July 15th against the Portland Timbers.
LAFC was tasked with another two-game week as they traveled to Houston to take on the Dynamo on Tuesday, July 3rd, and then hosted Orlando S.C. a few days later on the 7th.
On Saturday June 23rd, after a brief international break for the start of the World Cup, LAFC were back in action against a strong Columbus Crew FC. It was also the return of Gyasi Zardes to LA, a native of Hawthorne who was traded to the Columbus Crew from the LA Galaxy last year.
They were also without the defensive prowess of Laurent Ciman, who has since been placed on the Belgium National Teams stand-by list should one of the Belgians on the final 23 roster pick up an injury. It would be a test proven too difficult on this occasion, as they fell to FC Dallas 2-1.