Eduard Ateusta had a hand in LAFC’s win over the New York Red Bulls on Sunday night.
Not the most complete game, but LAFC will take it.
LAFC got off to a hot start against the Red Bulls, let them back into the match, but rebounded in a big way in the second half, and cruised to a 4-2 win over the Red Bulls on Sunday night at Banc of California Stadium.
“It was a fast game,” LAFC head coach Bob Bradley said of playing the Red Bulls. “Everything happens faster, you have to see things quicker, you have to be more on your feet quicker.”
The win further tightens the grip for LAFC (17-3-4, 55 points) in the Western Conference, as they are now a staggering 16 points ahead of second-place Seattle. Meanwhile, the Red Bulls (10-5-8, 37 points) slipped to fifth place in the East, one point behind NYCFC.
Tied at two and letting a two-goal lead slip away, LAFC regained control of the match in the second half. LAFC thought they had scored a go-ahead goal in the 50th minute, as Mark-Anthony Kaye led a break forward, played a ball to Adama Diomande, who back-heeled a ball back to Kaye, who fired a ball past Robles near post. However, Video Review was initiated, and it was discovered that Kaye had tripped a Red Bulls player while trialing the play, and despite LAFC’s plea that the trip was accidental, the goal was still disallowed.
That situation however turned out to be just a bump in the road for LAFC. In the 60th minute, Eduard Atuesta passed a ball to Eddie Segura, who passed a ball intended for Ateusta, Rece Buckmaster initially got his foot on the ball, but Atuesta charged in and gained possession inside the penalty area, Atuesta sprinted forward, Buckmaster tried to hold off Atuesta, but ended up clipping him from behind and referee Drew Fischer whistled for the penalty spot. A minute later, Vela buried the penalty to put LAFC back in front. LAFC sealed the match in the 72nd minute, as Vela sent a free kick into the penalty area and Eddie Segura headed the ball past keeper Luis Robles into the back net to restore LAFC’s two goal advantage, and this time, LAFC made sure the this two-goal lead held up.
“It’s a learning curve from last year to this year,” Beitashour said. “We’ve improved tremendously, last year, this game either finished in a draw, or possibly losing, We don’t lie giving up leads, but it was a great response in the second half.”
LAFC scored its first two goals inside a two-minute span in the first half. Carlos Vela sent a free kick into the penalty area and Jordan Harvey headed the ball past keeper Luis Robles into the back net for an opening goal in the 23rd minute.
“I wish it had been in front of the supporters’ section,” Harvey said of the goal. “It was amazing, and it made it a little extra special being that my wife’s early on in her pregnancy.”
Two minutes later, Atuesta sent a ball to Steve Beitashour inside the box, Beitashour got off a quick cross before Kemar Lawrence could close space, and Beitashour’s cross was on the mark, as two LAFC players, Diego Rossi and Latiff Blessing were there, and it was Blessing that got the chance to score, as he beat both Robles and Buckmaster and one-timed a shot into the back net just outside the six-yard box to double the LAFC lead.
NYRB however soon had their response. The Red Bulls almost found the back net in the 28th minute, as Marc Rzatkowski sent a corner and Tim Parker headed the ball for an open part of the net, but Beitashour cleared the ball with a header just shy of the goal line. NYRB however soon had its say, cutting the lead in half in the 41st minute, as Alejandro Romero-Gamarra took a ball from Blessing, passed to Cristian Casseres, who fired a volley just outside the 18-yard box that beat Tyler Miller near post. NYRB then got the equalizer just before halftime, as Casseres sprung Daniel Royer with a chipped ball, Royer crossed into the LAFC penalty area, the ball took a deflection, then went off first the post, then Miller, but eventually crossed the goal line for an uncharacteristic own goal by Miller, but more importantly, a tied game at two going into halftime.
“The Red Bulls close down space really quick, so sometimes, you have to rely on some sort of way to get out of it,” Harvey said. “You find yourself in tighter spaces, so sometimes, you have to come away with those things.”
LAFC is back on the road next Saturday, as they head to Utah to face Real Salt Lake.
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