It’s becoming more and more evident that LAFC is the team to beat in MLS this season.
LAFC won Saturday’s match against Sporting Kansas City in the second half. Cristian Arango got LAFC going with the opening goal, then had a hand in Gareth Bale’s first goal in an LAFC shirt, and LAFC put some distance between them and Austin FC for first place in the Western Conference with a 2-0 win over Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park.
Scoreless in the first half and for the first 10 minutes of the second half, Arango finally broke through for LAFC in the 56th minute. Jose Cifuentes played a ball to Carlos Vela, who then played a short pass to Kwadao Opoku and he touched a ball forward to get LAFC going. Opoku then found Arango, who touched a ball into the penalty area, then blasted a right-footed shot past keeper Tim Melia into the top back net to put LAFC ahead.
Then came the moment for Bale in the 83rd minute. Bale, who had replaced Opoku back in the 65th minute, pounced on a poor pass by Kansas City and right away one-timed an outlet pass to Arango, who then sprinted past Andreu Fontas to ignite an LAFC break. Arango then played a ball back to Bale on his right side, Bale dribbled into the penalty area, and despite pressure from Nicolas Isimat-Mirin, managed to get a shot off that beat Melia near post to basically seal the three points for LAFC.
LAFC now braces for a huge Friday night matinee, as they welcome the Seattle Sounders to Banc of California Stadium.
