LAFC fans can’t get enough of Laurent Ciman right now.
By Ivan Yeo
You couldn’t have scripted this any better.
LAFC was christening its brand new Banc of California Stadium, ironically, against the team that they had opened with a win in it’s first ever match, the Seattle Sounders, with a sellout crowd of 22,000, led by its supporters group 3252, that was roaring, even before the match had started. The match reaches a stalemate and a scoreless draw looks more and more likely, but then, one last shot comes along and the home team scores to get the win.
LAFC got that one last chance and it was Laurent Ciman that made the most of it, blasting a free kick similar to his goal in his return trip to Montreal last Saturday. Only this time, the stakes were higher, as it enabled LAFC to grab another three points with a 1-0 win over the Sounders.
“You get in all kinds of games, but it’s nice to not have to open this incredible new stadium in
Los Angeles with a zero-zero. So, we take our one-zero,” LAFC head coach Bob Bradley said.
It all started in the final minute of stoppage time. Carlos Vela had taken what turned out to be the last of a series of hard fouls that awarded LAFC a free kick from about 25 yards out. Both Ciman and Vela stood in shooting position, but it was Ciman who sent the set piece past the Sounders wall and right at goal. Sounders keeper Stefan Frei looked like he was going to catch the ball, but it instead hit off his left hand and went into the back net, sending the 22,000 in attendance save for the Sounders Fans, into a frenzy.
“It was a good chance for me to go to goal,” Ciman said. “Based on the last game, I felt that I had to go for it, and I didn’t question it too much.”
It was a far different story throughout the first 90 minutes. Defensively, Seattle’s game plan focused on LAFC Star Vela, and apparently, the strategy involved more than just marking him. The Sounders were physical with Vela as much as they could get away with, putting him on the receiving end of several hard fouls throughout the match and on some occasions, putting him to the pitch writhing in pain.
“I think it’s part of the game and I’m trying to play good for my team and they [Seattle] were
trying to stop me but it’s OK,” Vela said of the Sounders’ physical play. “I like the play, but of course that is not a fun way to play.”
The strategy appeared to be working, as LAFC’s attack was neutralized for most of the first half while Seattle had the better scoring chances. The Sounders had their first shot at goal four minutes into the match, as Nicolas Loidero crossed into the penalty area, Kelvin Leerdam headed a ball to Clint Dempsey, who fired a point-blank shot, but Jordan Harvey made a sliding save and the shot was deflected over the end line. The Sounders thought for sure they had found the back net four minutes later, as a throw-in by Leerdam went inside the 18, keeper Tyler Miller could not make the play, the ball bounced just outside the six-yard box and Alex Roldan looked to cash in on an empty net shot. Steve Beitashour however was at the right place at the right time, as he headed the ball away at the goal line and out of bounds.
LAFC finally started to create some chances in the second half. Three minutes in, a slide tackle by Harvey allowed Diego Rossi to have possession and sprint for goal, Rossi played Marco Urena into the penalty area, Urena took the shot, but Miller came off his line to make the save. A minute later, another slide tackle, this one by Ciman, gave LAFC possession again, Ciman found Benny Feilhaber, and he took a shot from distance that just sailed over the framework.
LAFC ramped up the pressure as the match approached the late stages. In the 78th minute, Harvey crossed into the penalty area, Urena headed a ball, which deflected off Seattle defender Gustav Svensson, but still went forward, requiring Frei to make a play on the ball. Frei’s punchout however was not enough, and Walker Zimmerman had a chance at a header near post, but the header instated went over the framework. In the 83rd minute, LAFC had a free kick on the right side of the Seattle penalty area, Eduard Atuesta sent the ball into the box, Urena headed a ball for the far post area, but it missed.
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