Photo courtesy of LAFC.
Giorgio Chiellini is already making himself at home on LAFC’s backline.
It felt like a rehash of the match against the LA Galaxy a few weeks back.
Another nationally televised Friday night match at home against a team that like the Galaxy, has historically played them tough throughout the years. LAFC found themselves in another dogfight, this time against the Seattle Sounders. Compounding the fact was that this time, LAFC had to play from behind, but play from behind they did. LAFC overcame an own goal with two late first half goals, and thus maintained its grip on first place in the Western Conference with a 2-1 win over the Sounders at Banc of California Stadium.
“Exciting evening, it was an amazing atmosphere,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “I think it (the atmosphere inside the stadium) deserved a game like we saw. If I am picky, maybe a little more quality in the passing of both teams and a little more chances. We are overjoyed to get these three points and to beat a very good team.”
Kwadao Opoku and Carlos Vela found the back net for LAFC, and the win puts them seven points ahead of Austin FC for the top spot in the Western Conference and six points ahead of the Philadelphia Union in the Supporters Shield race. Seattle meanwhile was unable to gain any ground in the playoff chase, as they remain one point behind both the LA Galaxy and Portland Timbers for the seventh spot in the conference.
“I told my teammates before the game that it will be very hard but if we play together we will win,” said LAFC defender Giorgio Chiellini, who was playing at Banc of California Stadium for the first time since signing with LAFC. “It was difficult because they [Sounders] are a good team and fantastic players. We were able to maintain and continue to play, we deserved to win.”
The Sounders took the lead in the 15th minute due in large part to LAFC. Nicolas Lodeiro dribbled into the penalty area, Francisco Escobar broke up the play and Ilie Sanchez cleared the ball. Cristian Roldan however kept possession for Seattle, dribbled into the penalty area himself, then crossed into the six-yard box, LAFC’s Jesus David Murillo made a play on the ball, only to see it go the wrong way as the ball crossed the goal line for an LAFC own goal that gave Seattle the early lead.
LAFC thought they had an equalizer in the 27th minute. Jose Cifuentes played a ball into the penalty area, where it sailed past Sounders defender Nouhou, Vela brought the ball down, then fired a a left-footed shot from the right side that beat Frei into the back net. However, referee Joseph Dickerson waited, then eventually went to video review, and it was determined that Vela used his upper left arm where he was wearing the captain’s armband to bring the ball down, meaning instead of a tying goal, Vela was called for a handball, nullifying the goal.
LAFC persisted thought, and its persistence finally paid off in the 36th minute, as Kwadao Opoku received a ball from Latiff Blessing, took a couple of touches before firing off a left-footed shot outside the penalty area from about 25 yards out that sailed past Frei far post to finally level the match. Then just before the half, LAFC took the lead, again in spectacular fashion, as Jose Cifuentes sent a ball into the penalty area and Vela just managed to keep himself onside, and he perfectly one-timed a left-footed shot past Frei.
“Every game is important and every three points is important, so we are happy to get the three points,” Opoku said. “They (Seattle) are a good team but we were able to fight to get the points.”
It was another electric atmosphere at Banc of California Stadium. Aside from the fact that it was another rivalry match, LAFC fans were eager to finally see the team’s two high-profile signings, Chiellini and Gareth Bale, play at home. Chiellini got the start and played 72 minutes, while Bale saw his most extensive minutes to date, subbing into the match in the 61st minute. Chiellini put in the most work, displaying the qualities that made his one of the top defenders, and even chipping in on the offensive end, firing a left-footed volley in the first half that just missed the far post by inches, all in front of his former teammates at Juventus, who are in town to face Real Madrid at the Rose Bowl on Saturday night and took in the LAFC/Seattle match from the field side seats.
“They would have stormed the field if I had scored that goal,” Chiellini of his teammates potential reaction to his scoring a goal.”
LAFC now turns its attention to Leagues Cup play, as they will prepare for Liga Mx’s Club America at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Wednesday.
