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.
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.
The hard times continued for the Black and Gold last weekend, as LAFC lost their first game at home this past Sunday against Sporting Kansas City, 2-1.
The Philadelphia Union came out of the gates with purpose. For the first 15 minutes, the Union were connecting passes and dominating midfield play setting a precedent that LAFC would need to adapt to. It was apparent that LAFC were still missing their attacking maestro in Carlos Vela, who at the time this article was written, was still away on international duty.
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.
LAFC hosted the last place seed in the east D.C. United at Banc of California Stadium, the match would end in a 1-1 draw.
On Saturday May 19th, LAFC traveled north to Portland to face the Timbers, the 2015 MLS Cup winners who also have the reigning MLS MVP in Diego Valeri. Both teams fought valiantly, as the game went back and forth most of the game but the LAFC defense were unable to quell Portland’s vibrant attack.
The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) was tasked with playing two games this week, a situation in which both players and coaches must exercise extreme caution and discretion regarding recovery time and rest.
Though LAFC dominated the match, finishing in the final third ultimately gave FC Dallas new life
The game itself was hard fought, yet nothing in the action was particularly noteworthy, as even the players themselves acknowledged the choppy pace of play, largely due in part to Seattle’s strategy in quelling the play of LAFC star Carlos Vela, the talisman and creative outlet of the team.