Photos courtesy of LAFC.
Triston Blackmon looked like he was going to be the hero for LAFC on Wednesday night, but Minnesota United had different ideas.
It was all there for LAFC.
A back-and-forth match against visiting Minnesota United had tilted back to LAFC late in the second half on Tristan Blackmon goal. That and a key save by Tomas Romero heading into stoppage time meant that the win was all but assured for LAFC, and the three points earned in this match was going to pull them into a tie with the LA Galaxy for third place in the Western Conference, which would have been an ideal way to end a busy stretch for the Black and Gold, which was playing its fourth match in 11 days, but was going to have a full week off before playing again next Wednesday against Sporting Kansas City. A win heading into the extended break would have been the perfect scenario for LAFC.
Minnesota however got one last chance, and made the most of it. Hassani Dotson’s goal at the death in stoppage time capped off a brace for the striker, and enabled Minnesota to steal a point following the 2-2 draw at Banc of California Stadium.
“I’m still in a little bit of shock,” LAFC head coach Bob Bradley said. “I thought overall we played a really good game. A lot of very good effort and I thought our effort was good. We just don’t finish it out.”
LAFC had taken back the lead in the 77th minute, as Eduard Atuesta sent a corner kick into the penalty area and Triston Blackmon headed the ball past keeper and former LAFC teammate Tyler Miller near post to put LAFC back in front. Surely LAFC thought three points were wrapped up in stoppage time, as LAFC keeper Tomas Romero stopped a Hassani Dotson point blank inside the penalty area. You would’ve thought for sure that LAFC had wrapped up the win right there.
However, one scenario turned out to be a lifeline for Minnesota. An LAFC defender pulled up lame and went to the ground in pain for a about a minute and had to be attended to by the LAFC training staff. That moment however extended what was originally meant to be three minutes of stoppage time into the 94th minute, Minnesota in general and Dotson in particular, got one last chance, and lightning struck, as Ethan Finlay sent a long cross at the top of the penalty area, the ball took a bounce and went to Dotson, who then took a touch that created a sightline that freed him up to blast a right-footed shot that beat Romero near post to level the match for good.
“It wasn’t any errors or any plays on our part,” LAFC’s Raheem Edwards said. “Maybe we could have done better or fouled or something like that but it’s really unlucky.”
LAFC pulled ahead in the 41st minute, and it was LAFC’s two stalwarts that got them in front. Jose Cifentues played a perfectly weighted ball to Vela, who sprinted for goal and once inside the penalty area, took the shot that got past Miller. LAFC took the lead into the halftime break, but Minnesota caught LAFC in the 49th minute, as Emmanuel Reynoso received a ball from Robin Lod, held off Marco Farfan’s challenge as he went into the penalty area and fired a left-footed volley that beat keeper Tomas Romero far post for the Minnesota equalizer.
