Having spent most of the month of June making headlines off the pitch, it was time for LAFC to get back to the business of making headlines on the pitch on Wednesday night.
In the midst of a busy month, LAFC is currently in a very busy week. Having fended off the New York Red Bulls on a hot Sunday afternoon, LAFC on got two days rest before returning to Banc of California Stadium for a midweek tilt against a dangerous FC Dallas squad. And on top of that, will only get another two days off before they make the trip north of the border to British Columbia to face the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The focus though for LAFC was Wednesday’s game. FC Dallas gave it a match, but in the end, LAFC once again displayed the qualities that has earned them the best record in MLS. Goals from Danny Musovski, Cristian Arango and Kwadwo Opoku carried the team on the night, and LAFC, with Giorgio Chiellini watching in the stands, improved to a league-best 11-3-3, 36 points, with the 3-1 win.
“It was a great night for LAFC,” head coach Steve Cherundolo said.
Tied at one entering the second half. LAFC regained the lead due to some pinpoint passing. Kellyn Acosta played a ball forward to Vela, who then sent a ball forward and Arango successfully get behind the Dallas backline, got inside the penalty area and sent the shot past keeper Maarten Paes far post to put LAFC back ahead. LAFC kept Dallas in check from that point on, then put the match away in the 85th minute in spectacular fashion, as Kwadwo Opoku unleashed a left-footed volley from about 30 yards out that snuck past Paes at the near post.
“It feels good to get on the score sheet and help the team win,” Opoku said.
LAFC went ahead in the 23rd minute due to a stroke of genius from Jose Cifuentes. LAFC went on the counterattack, Cifuentes had Cristian Arango in front and Musovski on the left, Cifuentes sent a ball forward into the penalty area, but to the right, and Musovski’s run was perfectly timed, as he beat Dallas’ Marco Farfan to the ball, then sent the shot past Paes far post.
Dallas however equalized in the 38th minute. Dallas had a free kick from about 30 yards out. Farfan and Ferreira were on top of the ball, and Farfan motioned to take the kick, but hesitated at the last second, which threw LAFC off, and it was Ferreira that took the set piece. Ferreira was on target, as the shot got past keeper Maxime Crepeau, grazed the bottom of the crossbar and into the back net to even the match.
