Photos courtesy of LAFC.
Jose Cifuentes gave the capacity crowd at Banc of California Stadium to cheer about with a goal in the second half of Saturday’s match against Houston.
It was re-opening night at Banc of California Stadium on Saturday night.
Playing in front of a capacity crowd for the first time since the second week of the 2020 season, LAFC looked to treat the fans to three points and also potentially get its season back on track. LAFC looked as if it would fulfill that goal, as Jose Cifuentes put LAFC in front early in the second half. Houston however spoiled the party, as Maxi Urruti leveled for the Dynamo moments later and weathered a late-game push for the three points from LAFC, and the two sides had to eventually settle for the 1-1 draw.
“Just having the energy, and it sounds weird to say this, I miss not being able to hear someone from like 10 feet away from the field,” LAFC’s Bryce Duke said. “It’s glad to have —- or I’m glad to have all the fans back and I’m sure they’re glad to be back.”
After 50 scoreless minutes, LAFC gave the fans something to celebrate. Carlos Vela sent in a corner kick into to the six yard box, and the ball bounced to Cifuentes, who was in the right place at the right time. Cifunetes, whose saved volley a minute earlier got LAFC that corner, received the ball inside the six-yard box with a wide open net at the near post, and Cifuentes buried the point-blank shot to give LAFC the lead.
“I have felt better and better in training and I think that in this match, it was shown that I feel more confident,” Cifuentes said.
Houston however equalized in the 58th minute, and it was Urruti who started, and finished the sequence for the Dynamo. Urruti started by dispossessing Duke, then played a ball to Fabrice-Jean Picault, who then dirbbled down the right side of the field. Picault spilt two LAFC defenders to dribble into the penalty area, passed to a trailing Urruti, who took a touch, gathered himself and fired a shot that beat keeper Pablo Sisniega for the equalizer.
Photo Courtesy of LAFC.
For the first time since the second game of last season, the 3252 section at Banc of California Stadium was full and rocking for LAFC.
Houston almost took the lead a minute two minutes later, and it was Urruti that had the chance. A bad pass from Eddie Segura resulted in Houston getting a chance at goal, Urruti received a pass, took a touch and fired a shot inside the penalty area, but Sisniega won the battle this time around, as he parried Urruti’s shot into the stands. LAFC had the chances to steal the three points late in the match. Duke played Rossi into the penalty area int he 86th minute, but Rossi’s shot was saved by keeper Marko Maric. Raheem Edwards had a chance for LAFC two minutes later, Duke tried to dribble through the Houston defense, lost the ball, but the ball fell to Edwards, who one-timed a shot towards the far post, but shot missed by a mere inches. LAFC had one last chance in stoppage time, as Rossi received a ball from Cifuentes, sidestepped Dynamo defender Zarek Valentin, which left him with a sightline, and he took the shot, but the ball sailed over the framework.
“I thought we came into the game with a really good mentality,” LAFC head coach Bob Bradley said. “Focus was right on the money, it was a hard fought game.”
There will be no rest for the weary for LAFC this week. Saturday’s game was the start of a busy week for LAFC, as they will again play at home against a team from Texas, this time, it will be against FC Dallas on Wednesday, followed by a trip to Kansas City to face Sporting KC on Saturday.
