Vela scores his 8th goal of the season & LAFC remains undefeated
A beautiful Saturday evening in downtown Los Angeles gave way to a fantastic week seven matchup in the MLS between the league-leading Los Angeles Futbol Club and the MLS newcomers FC Cincinnati. LAFC is coming off an incredible road victory in Washington D.C. after having defeated Wayne Rooney and D.C. United 4-0 with a hat trick by Diego Rossi. FC Cincinnati came into this game having lodged a 1-1 tie at home against Sporting Kansas City.
LAFC began the first half of play just like their 2019 season, and that is on all cylinders running. During the second minute a beautiful triangle play formed inside the 18-yard box between Carlos Vela, Diego Rossi, and Christian Ramirez that left Latif Blessing with a clear shot on goal, his shot was deflected and landed at the feet of Diego Rossi whose shot was blocked point-blank by Cincinnati goalkeeper Spencer Richey.
During the 10th minute, FC Cincinnati showed their first signs of danger as forward Kenny Saief sends a cross to Darren Mattocks whos shot goes just wide of Tyler Miller’s goal.
In the 26th minute, Mark-Anthony Kaye misses a clear opportunity on goal as he receives a beautiful cross from Eduard Atuesta that leaves Kaye in front of Richey’s goal and he miss-timed his one-touch attempt and ends up sending a weak shot wide of the goal.
At the 32nd minute, Mark-Anthony gives LAFC the 1-0 lead as he heads a ball to the far post of Richey’s goal and into the net after a corner kick by Vela.
A physical altercation occurred during the 41st minute after Carlos Vela got hit with a dangerous sliding tackle by Mathieu Deplagne. Vela fell on top of Deplagne after the challenge, and he took exception to it as he hit Vela behind his head and Vela was staring at him. The referee did not award any yellow cards and awarded a play on as tempers were still high.
Just before halftime during the stopagge time the team from Ohio missed the most obvious opportunity of the night for them to tie the game as forward Darren Mattocks stole the ball from Walker Zimmerman in LAFC’s defending third of the field. Mattocks then cut into the 18-yard box and sent a shot to Miller’s far left post. Miller dove fully extended and swat the ball out of the goal. A near beautiful goal denied by LAFC goalkeeper.
After some halftime adjustments, LAFC began the second half just like the first with two clear shots on goal by Vela one that was caught clean by Richey and the other missing just wide of the net.
Cincinnati tried to answer back to get back into the game during the 59th minute with a through pass inside the box from Mattocks to Saief who slides and nearly misses Miller’s goal.
The rest of the half ensued with both teams creating tough challenges in the midfield and creating many loose ball fouls to try to stop the other groups counter attacks. LAFC managed to create various opportunities during this grudge match in the middle of the second half create different opportunities towards the goal that ultimately the home team did not complete.
The team from Ohio missed a golden opportunity to tie the game in the 80th minute as they executed a free kick into the LAFC 18-yard box that saw Miller mistime his clearing punch and he left his goal wide open as Watson headed the ball just over the net. A missed opportunity that came back to haunt them.
In stoppage time during the 93rd minute, the MLS league leader in goals put the game away for Los Angelinos, as Vela passed a defender in the box and sent a right footed shot past Richey’s outstretched hands securing the 2-0 victory for LAFC.
LAFC now extends their unbeaten streak to seven games and remains atop of the western conference with 19 points in the young season. Vela adds to his goal total and stays as the current league leader in goals with eight in the young season, also adds an assist that puts him now in sole possession of second place right behind Toronto FC’s Alejandro Pozuelo.
