Photo courtesy of LAFC.
Kwadao Opoku was in a celebretory mood after his goal sealed LAFC’s trip to the MLS Cup final.
One down, one more to go for LAFC.
With Banc of California Stadium rocking as it has never rocked before, LAFC seized the moment. Hosting its second Western Conference final, and playing and Austin FC side that not only won both meetings during the regular season, but was only one of two teams this season to defeat LAFC at home, LAFC quickly rendered those two regular season games moot. Goals from Cristian Arango, Kwadao Opoku and an Austin own goal were enough to ensure that the road to the MLS Cup title will literally and figuratively go through Los Angeles following LAFC’s 3-0 win over Austin.
“The guys did an emphatic job of making sure there was only one team playing here next Saturday,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “It’s I think the best I’ve seen this year implementing our match plan from the first minute to the last.”
Three years after being in its worst moment, when the Seattle Sounders rallied from a one-goal deficit to stun the Supporters Shield-winner LAFC on the same ground to win the 2019 Western Conference final and eventually its second MLS Cup, LAFC made sure from the start that there would be no repeat performance, as they were all over Austin right from the opening whistle, and did not let up. As a result, only the Philadelphia Union stand between LAFC’s first ever MLS Cup title, which will be decided on Saturday afternoon at Banc of California Stadium.
LAFC first struck in the 29th minute, though the events leading up to the goal occurred a minute earlier. Carlos Vela sent a long ball forward, keeper Brad Stuver left his line to the to get to the ball, but Denis Bouanga beat to it and in the process, dribbled into the penalty area with the Austin net wide open. Bouanga quickly gathered himself to try to score the open netter, but his shot deflected off both Julio Cascante and Stuver and went over the end line for an LAFC corner. LAFC though made up for that missed chance, as Vela sent the corner into the penalty area and Cristian Arango headed a ball into the back net uncontested, and LAFC was up 1-0.
LAFC took control of the match in the second half. LAFC got some help from Austin FC themselves in the 62nd minute, as they had another corner, Vela again sent the corner into the penalty area, Austin’s Maxi Urruti headed a ball, but it went the wrong way, as the ball went one way and Stuver went the other way, and the end result was an Austin own goal that doubled the LAFC lead. The ball literally bounced LAFC’s way in the 81st minute, as Diego Fagundez sent a ball back towards his own net, Julio Cascante tracked down the ball, but the ball took an awkward bounce causing Cascante to overrun the ball and instead gave Opoku the opportunity to track down the ball just inside the penalty area, then fire a left-footed volley that beat Stuver near post to sent the sellout crowd save for the Austin fans, into a frenzy and pretty much book LAFC’s date with the MLS Cup final.
“From top to bottom, everyone came to play,” Ryan Hollingshead said. “There wasn’t a weak spot, our lines were aggressive, (and) everyone was stepping up.”
LAFC dominated the match right from the start. Jesus David Murillo sprung Jose Cifuentes in the 15th minute with a long ball over the Austin defense, Cifuentes tracked the ball into the penalty area, teed up and fired the shot for the near post, the shot hit off said near post, Cifuentes tracked the ball down, then attempted a rebound shot on a semi-scissors kick just outside the six-yard box, but Austin’s Ruben Gabrielsen threw himself in front the shot and not only managed to block shot, but also drew the foul on Cifuentes, who got a piece of Gabrielsen during the chance.
Photo courtesy of LAFC
Even after taking the lead, and mindful that the 1-0 lead three years ago against Seattle was not enough in that match, LAFC was not satisfied, keeping the pressure on Austin throughout the match. Murillo again went over the Austin defense to create another LAFC chance in the 41st minute, this time, it was Vela who was the beneficiary, as he chased down the long ball into the Austin penalty area and fired right a goal, but Stuver made the save, parrying the ball over the end line. A minute later, Ilie Sanchez played Arango forward, Arango dribbled into the penalty area, passed to a trailing Cifunentes, who took a touch and fired at goal, but again, Stuver stood his ground, as he sent the ball back over the right touchline. LAFC kept up the pressure well into the second half, as Arango and Ryan Hollingshead had open looks inside the penalty area early in the half, but both shots were denied by Stuver.
“We were aggressive, intense and were were capable of making opportunities and capitalizing on some,” LAFC’s Kellyn Acosta said. “It was a testament that we were ready for this game.”
Austin FC didn’t have many chances in the match, and perhaps its best chance to get back in the match was controversially taken away. It occured in the 67th minute with Austin FC still trailing 2-0, as Diego Fagundez made a deke move inside the penalty area, then attempted to get back to the ball, LAFC’s Sebastian Ibeaga also made a play on the ball, Fagundez went to the ground in apparent pain, and at first no call was made, but referee Armando Villarreal soon got the call for video review. The replay did show that Ibeaga did step on Fagundez’s left foot just inside the penalty area, but despite that footage, Villarreal ruled that no foul had been committed inside the penalty area, robbing Austin FC of a potential penalty that could’ve changed the complexion of the match.
