The train keeps rolling along for LAFC in MLS play.
Making the at times difficult trip to Utah to play Real Salt Lake in altitude, LAFC was up for the task. Cristian Arango was the headliner for LAFC on Saturday night, as his brace and assist, along with a goal from Kellyn Acosta and a golazo from Gareth Bale kept LAFC atop both the conference standings and the Supporters Shield Race with a 4-1 win at Rio Tinto Stadium.
“Collectively, it was a solid performance all around from everybody that came onto the field,” Acosta said.
Arango found the back net 10 minutes in. Carlos Vela sent a long free kick into the penalty area, RSL’s Justin Meram sent the ball out of the six-yard box, but to the feel ot LAFC’s Ilie Sanchez, who immediately sent the ball back towards the six, the ball took a few more deflections before it found the feet of Arango, who back-heeled a ball past keeper Zac MacMath to gave LAFC the lead.
Salt Lake however was up for the challenge. Just two minutes later, RSL was on the attack, as Andrew Bordy dribbled to his right into the middle lanes, played a ball to Cordova, who was just outside the penalty area, Cordova turned with the ball to get into shooting motion, then fired the 23-yard volley with his right foot past keeper Maxime Crepeau near post to level the match. LAFC though had a response of their own four minutes later, as Vela sent another free kick into the RSL penalty area, Arango flicked a header, Kwadao Opoku fought off two RSL players to maintain possession, and Acosta finished off the sequence by firing a left-footed volley inside the 18 past MacMath to put LAFC back in front.
Both teams eventually settled down the remainder of the first half, then LAFC doubled its advantage in the 60th minute. LAFC held the ball inside Salt Lake’s side of the field, then made its move when Opoku received a ball from Diego Palacios, touched a ball and circled past Aaron Herrera to break forward, Opoku crossed into the penalty area and Arango touched a ball inside the six past MacMath into the back net to give LAFC the two-goal cushion.
“We finally managed to score a few more goals (and) not leave it to a stressful last few minutes,” LAFC head coach Steve Chreundolo said. “I was happy with our set pieces tonight, we’re also happy with a few of our counterattacks, and everytime we were able to string a few passes together, we were dangerous and managed to get into their box.
Then it was Bale’s turn, and he scored the kind of goal in the 88th that only the likes of Gareth Bale could do so. Arango sprung Bale down the right side, Bale dribbled forward with two RSL defenders, Justen Glad and Pablo Ruiz, giving chase, but Bale simply kicked into into second gear, as he stuttered, then turned left and simply dribbled past and around Glad into the penalty area, pulled back outside the six and slotted the left-footed shot past MacMath far post.
