Ola Kamara’s goal capped off another improbable comeback against LAFC on Thursday night,
By Ivan Yeo
It’s de ja vu all over again in El Trafico.
Hosting the second version of the budding crosstown rivalry at its stadium for the first time, LAFC looked to treat the sellout crowd wearing black to a show and also make amends for its heartbreaking loss to its crosstown rival LA Galaxy back in March.
Again, LAFC jumped out to a big lead thanks to goals from Carlos Vela and a beautiful free kick by Lee Nguyen, and LAFC seemed poised to collect three points in front of its home fans. However a Galaxy goal by Romain Alessandrini, followed by a huge mistake by one of its newest players, which then resulted in an equalizer by Ola Kamara enabled the Galaxy to once again stun LAFC, even as it will have to share the points following its 2-2 draw at Banc of California Stadium.
“There was a lot there, but certainly a night where on our end, our ability at the end of the game, composure, intelligence, decision – making, maturity and more let us down,” LAFC head coach Bob Bradley said.
Leading 2-0 deep into the second half, LAFC looked to be well in control of the match. The Galaxy however started to exert some pressure and finally saw some of that pressure pay off in the 81st minute. Chris Pontius sent a ball forward, Walker Zimmerman looked to cut off the ball, but it took a bad touch off his right foot, Zlatan Ibrahimovic collected the ball, sprinted to the penalty area, crossed to Romain Alessandrini, who chested down the ball and fired a shot that beat Tyler Miller far post to halve the LAFC advantage.
“We came back to 2-1, and at this point you have to give everything to get it to 2-2,” Alessandrini said. “When you score a goal, the game is changed.”
Alessandrini’s goal however turned out to be window dressing compared to what unfolded six minutes later. Andre Horta, LAFC’s third designated player signing who had entered in the 77th minute to make his debut, had the ball on his left side, but pressured by Sebastian Lletget. Horta chose to play it safe and play a long back pass towards Miller, but Horta didn’t put enough on the pass, forcing Miller into a footrace with Kamara to get to the ball. Sure enough, Kamara got to the ball first, sprinted past Miller into the penalty area and shot the ball into the empty net despite Laurent Ciman’s last minute challenge for a shocking equalizing goal that left the 22,000 inside Banc of California Stadium stunned, save for the Galaxy fans in attendance.
“I hid a little bit and then saw him looking at the goalie so I knew he was going to pass it, but I didn’t want to show it too early,” Kamara said of the play. “In the end, it was a tough angle, and I was in a difficult position.”
Adding another twist to the unfolding drama at Banc of California stadium, Horta almost went from goat to hero, as he launched left-footed volley in the 89th minute that bounced off the far post.
“We know he is a good player,” Vela said of Horta. “We know he can bring really great things for the team. He is young and he has to learn.”
Prior to the drama of the last 10 minutes, LAFC got things rolling early in the first half. Adama Diomande chased down a cross sent by Jorday Harvey that Vela just missed inside the penalty area. Diomande took a touch on the ball before crossing back into the penalty area and Vela came through this time, as he headed the ball past David Bingham to stake LAFC to the lead. LAFC was far from finished. LAFC won a free kick from about 21 yards out and Lee Nguyen curled the set piece over the Galaxy wall and past Bingham near post and again just in a blink of an eye, LAFC enjoyed a two-goal lead.
