It could not have come at a worse time for LAFC.
LAFC is suddenly having trouble scoring goals, and the drought comes as LAFC is in a dogfight for playoff positioning in the Western Conference. LAFC has not scored in its last three matches, and its only bright spot has been its ability to keep its opponent out of the back net. However, on Sunday evening against Real Salt Lake, despite a fleury of chances, not being able to score truly came back to bite them, as they fell 1-0 at home to Real Salt Lake.
“I think tonight, you saw as well, just lack of quality in the key moments to set up real chances,” LAFC head coach Steven Cherundolo said. “Reasons for that; I think I did see a little fatigue creep into the legs tonight. Then you see a lack of concentration, a lack of coordination and that results in poor passing of the ball, a poor first
touch.”
Losing was one thing, and losing at home had to be another, but the loss came off the head of a former teammate, as Cristian Arango came back to haunt his former team with a second-half goal. That and the efforts of keeper Zac MacMath are the reasons Real Salt Lake is leaving BMO Stadium with three points. The result was damaging to LAFC, as they dropped to fourth in the West, though they are still a point behind both RSL and the Seattle Sounders.
“Today I told the team good teams also lose but they continue to show after a loss,” LAFC captain Carlos Vela said. “We still have a good team, and we never give up and we have to work to win the next game because it is the more important one.”
The moment came for Arango in the 72nd minute. It started when Rubio Rubin and Braian Ojeda worked a one-two that saw Rubin gain possession of the ball with more room to work in. Rubin then sent a cross all the way into the six-yard box and Arango headed a ball that beat keeper Maxime Crepeau far post to give Salt Lake the lead.
LAFC had the better chances in the first half. The first chance came in the 21st minute, as Denis Bouanga sent a free kick towards the framework, but RSL keeper Zack MacMath calmly punched the ball away from goal. LAFC’s next chance came in the 39th minute, as Bouanga pounced on a bad pass and led an LAFC break. Bouanga played a ball to Carlos Vela on his right, played Bouanga into the penalty area, Bouanga actually got the ball outside of the penalty area, but brought it back in and took a shot that just missed the back post.
Salt Lake got its first chance a minute into the second half, as Arango took an initial shot that was stopped by Crepeau, but RSL kept the ball, and Andrés Gómez attempted a shot from just outside the penalty area towards the near post, but Crepeau dove and just got his right hand on the ball to parry the ball over the end line. LAFC soon went back to being on the front foot, as Mateusz Bogusz sent a ball into the six-yard box int he 49th minute, MacMath slapped the ball away, but it stayed inside the penalty area and Vela attempted a sliding shot, but MacMath got his right hand on the ball and sent it over the framework. Bouanga had another chance in the 53rd minute as he launched from just outside the penalty area, but MacMath denied the chance. Bouanga had one last chance to slavage a point for LAFC in stoppage time, as he curled a ball for the far post, but MacMath’s right hand again came through for Salt Lake, as he parried the ball over the crossbar.
