LAFC and LA Galaxy Stump Each Other in Third Rendition of El Tráfico
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.
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.
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 Los Angeles Football Club have put themselves in a tough position. Out of their last six matches, LAFC have tied three, lost two and won one. The 2-1 loss at the hands of the Red Bulls this past weekend has dropped the squad from second to fourth place in the Western standings, with the Portland Timbers moving into second and Sporting Kansas City moving into third.
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
LAFC would win the rematch in Portland 3-2, with goals from Carlos Vela and Marco Ureña, his first for LAFC. The game, while not a league match, looked to continue LAFC’s recent strong form over into MLS games. Unfortunately, LAFC squandered the opportunity in a display that the players and fans of LAFC alike, will want to put behind them for good.
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.
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.
On Saturday, June 9, 2018 the Los Angeles Football Club travelled north to Silicon Valley to face the San Jose Earthquakes
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.
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.