Vela’s Full 90 Not Enough For LAFC and Fall 1-2 to NYCFC

LAFC played its second consecutive home match, this time versus New York City Futbol Club (NYCFC), in an East Coast versus West Coast showdown. Both teams came into the match hungry for points, with LAFC looking to move up in the standings, while NYCFC also came in with eight points this season. With a crowd of about 13,600, Banc of California Stadium started to feel like home-field advantage. LAFC leads MLS with a 31-15-4 (W-D-L) record at the Banc, as they have only been defeated 4 times at home since 2018.

As the first half got underway, NYCFC began with a 3-4-1-2 formation to counter LAFC’s attack.  It worked out for the visitors in the first half as they kept Bob Bradley’s team off balance.  Both teams struggled to ignite any offense.  LAFC team captain, Vela, was not effective in the first half. The teams went into the lockers at halftime with a 0-0 score. 

In the second half, LAFC came out with more of an urgency on offense. In the 56th minute, Corey Baird put the home team on the board. In what started as a promising second half for Vela’s team, it was anything but that.  The offense appeared to stagger and not make crisp passes. Give credit to NYCFC as the game plan stifled Carlos Vela and LAFC.

NYCFC head coach Ronny Deila’s team tied the match at 1-1 in the 70th minute as Jesus Median put the ball in the back of the net after Mark Anthony-Kay turned the ball over deep in LAFC territory. Bradley’s side appeared deflated after this goal and Deila’s team took the lead in the 90th minute as Ismael Tajouri-Shradi scored and put his team up for good. 

NYCFC head coach Ronny Deila’s team tied the match at 1-1 in the 70th minute as Jesus Median put the ball in the back of the net after Mark Anthony-Kay turned the ball over deep in LAFC territory. Bradley’s side appeared deflated after this goal, and Deila’s team took the lead in the 90th minute as Ismael Tajouri-Shradi scored and put his team up for good. This was all despite the team from New York being down a man after NYCFC’s Nicolás Acevedo got a red card in the 86th minute. NYCFC came into Los Angeles and stole a game from LAFC in a much-needed win for them.  The Black and Gold suffer a defeat for the 5th tom at home since 2018.