With the International break wrapped up (and the USMNT, Mexico and Costa Rica sealing their trips to Qatar, though Costa Rica will be going a little sooner), MLS will be among several leagues resuming play, and for LAFC, that means a chance to maintain its good start start to the season, though its next game will pose a challenge.
LAFC will head back to the state of Florida, this time to face Orlando City at Exploria Stadium for a Saturday evening tilt. While not undefeated, Orlando has had just as good a start to the season, as they are 2-1-2 through its first five matches. Orlando already has one win over a team from Los Angeles, as they made the coastal trek to Carson and defeated the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park back on March 19. Orlando are expected to be carried by Facundo Torres and one-time AC Milan phenom Alexandre Pato. So far though, its been Ocimar Júnior de Almeida Júnior that has carried the offensive load as the team’s leading scorer.
LAFC looks like they are back to being the team that was a perennial MLS Cup contender throughout the first three years of its existence. LAFC are undefeated with a 3-0-1 record to start the season, and its not only LAFC that are back to being its dominant self, but so is Carlos Vela. The 2019 league MVP is back to being that player again, as he has scored four goals in LAFC’s first four games. Vela announced his return to elite status back on opening week, as he electrified the home crowd with a hat trick in LAFC’s win over the Colorado Rapids.
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