Photos courtesy of LAFC.
Despite two chances going off the framework, Diego Rossi, right, emerged as MLS’ Golden Boot winner for the 2020 season.
After Sunday’s match against the Timbers, there was a few things for LAFC to dwell on.
As far as what was at stake, LAFC had already knew that they would be opening the upcoming MLS playoffs on the road in two weeks. LAFC knew the outcome of Sunday’s match would determine their opponent, so they couldn’t have been too pleased at allowing Portland to score a late second half goal that turned a potential win into a 1-1 draw, which knocked LAFC down to seventh place in the Western Conference, which will get them a matchup with the second-seeded with the Seattle Sounders in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference final.
“I know this one was not a result that we want, but we have to learn about this and we have to continue,” LAFC’s Diego Rossi. “This is part of football, and now we have to learn for the playoffs, that is more important at least from there.”
There were however some good things that LAFC could draw from the match. Carlos Vela scored LAFC’s lone goal of the match and it looks like Vela is regaining the form that made him the MVP last season. That could bode well for LAFC’s chance as a darkhorse contender in the playoffs. LAFC can also take comfort in a few things; one is that they have already beaten the Sounders in a high-stakes match this year, as they handed Seattle a 4-1 rout in this past Summer’s MLS is Back tournament, and two; despite having to go up to Seattle, LAFC will not have to deal with the Sounders crowd, not that that has been a problem for LAFC, as they have not lost a match at CenturyLink Field since entering the league.
LAFC took the lead five minutes in. Latif Blessing took advantage of a bad ball from Eryk Williamson, dribbled into the penalty area, and fired a shot that Timbers Keeper Steve Clark saved, but Vela swooped in unmarked from the right side and finished the rebound chance inside the six-yard box. LAFC had a chance for more goals throughout the match, but two chances by Diego Rossi and another chance by Vela all hit off the framework.
Those close opportunities came back to bite LAFC in the 89th minute. Portland built up an attack, Diego Valeri took a ball from Andy Polo and sent a cross into the penalty area to the back post area, and Jorge Villafana headed the cross just outside the six past keeper Kenneth Vermeer.
“I don’t think that we do a good enough job dealing with things as they come forward, and we get sucked over toward the ball and Villafana is able to score at the back post,” Bradley said.
Despite those two chances being denied by the framework, Rossi will end the season as the league’s Golden Boot winner, making him the league’s youngest player to lead the league in goals.
” Yeah, this is a trophy also for the team, because without my teammates,” Rossi said. “This is impossible to make. As a forward, you always want to score and you always want to help the team in that way, and yes, you have to work hard for that, improve yourself, and be ready when you have a chance to put it in.”
