Latiff Blessing, left, and LAFC found themselves unexpectedly stifled by the Chicago Fire on Saturday night.
By Ivan Yeo
It was one of those nights for LAFC.
LAFC did just about everything it could do against the Chicago Fire on Saturday night. LAFC controlled possession and had the better scoring chances against the Fire, though LAFC admits its passing throughout the match left a lot to be desired, an apparent factor in its 0-0 draw at Banc of California Stadium.
“I thought we had pretty decent tempo in the first half, some pretty good attacking ideas,” Bradley said. “Overall on the night, I don’t think we had our best passing night, with a lot of numbers back, finding the right pass, the quality of the pass, that definitely hurt us.”
The news wasn’t all bad for LAFC. They were already assured of remaining in first place in the Western Conference when the LA Galaxy lost 3-2 to the New York Red Bulls earlier in the day, and the point earned from Saturday’s match against Chicago does given them a two-point lead over the Galaxy in the standings.
LAFC was aggressive from the start. Carlos Vela worked a one-two with Steve Beitashour that ended with Vela sprinting for the penalty area. Vela dribbled into the penalty area, played a cross just outside the six-yard box and Christian Ramirez struck a one-timer at goal, but David Outsed made the save and Dax McCarty cleared the ball over the end line.
LAFC continued to apply the pressure. In the 28th minute, LAFC had a corner, Eduard Atuesta sent the corner inside the six, Jordan Harvey touched a ball towards goal, but Nemanja Nikolic stopped the ball at the goal line, the ball ping-ponged off Harvey, Nikolic and Chicago’s Jorge Corrales in inside the six, Ramirez then tried to slam in the goal, but his shot inadvertently hit off Harvey before Johan Kappelhof finally cleared the ball out of the box. LAFC had another chance in the 35th minute, as Rossi took a ball from Vela, sidestepped Przenyslaw Frankowski, sprinted into the penalty area and played a cross that was cleared out by Corrales. Rossi however got the ball back, then took the shot himself, as he curled a ball for the far post, but missed by inches.
“I think it might have not been our best passing night, but we still in that first half created so many chances and somehow they managed to have two guys on the line and pinballed it out,” Ramirez said. “Our own guy even blocks a shot so it’s just one of those nights that the ball just didn’t want to go in.”
LAFC actually did find the back net in the second half, but given LAFC’s luck, the goal did not stand. In occurred in the 53rd minute, as Mark-Anthony Kaye chipped a ball perfectly for Steve Beitashour, who had gotten behind the Fire backline. Beitashour brought the ball down, then fired a shot that beat David Ousted far post. The goal however was called back, as Beitashour had gotten behind the Chicago defense just a tad late.
“We created some (chances) but I would certainly say that the passing part of it, the decision-making part of it (were lacking), which is so important to open a team like that up,” Bradley said.
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