Latiff Blessing had a goal and two assists in LAFC’s 4-1 win over Philadelphia.
By Ivan Yeo
LAFC’s roster depth has certainly been apparently this past month.
With the likes of Carlos Vela, Marco Urena and Omar Gaber playing in the World Cup, Bob Bradley has certainly had to reach beyond the depths of the roster to keep the team well in the playoff chase. Lee Ngyuen has started LAFC’s last five matches, including two US Open Cups, and others such as Aaron Kovar and first round draft pick Joao Moutinho have been thrust into the starting lineup during this stretch.
On Saturday against the Philadelphia Union, it was Adama Diomande that got his chance to shine. Diomande recorded the franchise’s first ever hat trick as LAFC routed the Union 4-1 in a Saturday matinee at Banc of California Stadium.
“Not only the goals, but for me tonight was the first game where I start to see the quality of
some of [Diomande’s] touches, and the sharpness where he’s able to take certain balls and move to make the right pass to the next guy,” Bradley said of Diomande’s performance.
Diomande has also been one of bright sports for LAFC during this June month. After Saturday’s performance, Diomande has scored seven goals on the season, and his performances has enabled LAFC to remain in the hunt for the top spot in the Western Conference, as LAFC sits just two points back of Sporting Kansas City and FC Dallas in the West. Bradley, who coached Diomande at Staebek in 2015, certainly knows about Diomande’s imposing presence in front of goal.
From my time with him, I know that is a lot closer to the Dio that I remember,” Bradley said. “I joked with him on the field, the goals are great, I know they will keep coming because of the way he’s moving and as his understanding with the other players continues to grow.”
Diomande got things for LAFC in the 12th minute, but on defense. Diomande deflected a pass by Auston Trusty, which went to Latiff Blessing, who then sprung Diomande for goal. Diomande got inside the penalty area, turned defender Mark McKenzie before firing a shot that beat keeper Andre Blake far post.
Diomande’s next strike came off some fine passing in the 25th minute. Joao Moutinho played a ball to Blessing in the box, Blessing then played a short forward pass to Mark Anthony Kaye, who then followed with a short cross to Diomande, and his shot outside the six-yard box beat Blake to stretch the LAFC lead.
“First of all, we always have the same game plan, to start pressing and going for the first goal,” Diomande said. “After my first goal, I thought that we were doing better, of course. We’re not used to playing when the sun is out and all that stuff. It was just great to get the first goal, and the second goal was a fantastic goal by the team.”
Philadelphia put a brief scare into LAFC right before the half, as Marcus Epps crossed into the penalty area, LAFC keeper Tyler Miller dove to redirect the shot, but the ball stayed in the box and with the net exposed, Fafa Picault charged in and buried the open net shot. LAFC however put aside any though of a Union comeback in the 55th minute, as Blessing touched a ball to Aaron Kovar in the box, Kovar crossed back to Blessing, who tired to quickly shoot, but defending from McKenzie forced Blessing to bounce the ball high in the air. The ball though continued forward and Diomande came in and took the sliding shot that beat Blake near post. Diomande paid a bit of a price for that goal, as he held his right shin in pain for a moment, but was able to continue. LAFC put the icing on the cake in stoppage time, as Nguyen forced a turnover, received a ball from Kaye and broke for goal. Nguyen took a shot inside the box, Blake made the save, but could not hang onto the ball and Blessing beat Ray Gaddis to the ball and his touch went into the back net far post.
“We’re not afraid to go and take control of a game no matter where we’re playing,” Kaye said. “It doesn’t matter whether we have three games in a week or three away games in a row, we’re gonna go out there and play our game.”
LAFC’s roster depth will continue to be tested the next two weeks, as they will play five matches during that span, starting with a July 3 match against Houston. However, with the addition of it’s third Designated Player, Andre Horta, having arrived, training and awaiting the start of the transfer window on July 10, at which he will be available for selection, and most of the World Cup players having returned, and the experience of starting its season with six straight road matches, LAFC is confident they can weather this latest storm.
“I would say that people looking at the beginning of the season would say that the first six games were tough, and we came out with four wins,” Kaye said. “I think we’re pretty confident going into away games. We don’t see them as, ‘Oh no, we can’t pick up points there.’ A game is a game — eleven players versus eleven players.”
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