LAFC fell behind 2-0, but rallied back, getting goals from Carlos Vela in the first half and a blast from Jose Cifuentes in the second half, and LAFC averted disaster with a 2-2 draw at Banc of California Stadium.

“There was a bad start to the game obviously,” LAFC keeper Tomas Romero said. “Going down 2-0 the first half, we didn’t really have — seemed like we didn’t have energy. Kind of feels like a loss but at the same time it’s good that we got at least a point.”

While getting a point and thus getting within striking distance of third place in the Western Conference is a benefit, letting a Whitecaps squad currently sitting near the bottom of the conference jump out to a two-goal lead on your home field is certain to raise some eyebrows.

“Not enough guys had really good days,” LAFC head coach Bob Bradley said. “There’s a part where you’re behind, and now we’ve got to push hard to get back into a game, and so there’s some credit on that end but overall, not good enough tonight.”

The Whitecaps surprised LAFC in the 25th minute. Brian White played a ball to his right to Javain Brown, who then crossed into the penalty area for Deiber Caciedo. LAFC’s Kim Moon-Hwan and Romero looked to make a play on the ball, Kim got to the ball first, but his deflection went forward and with Romero off his line, Caciedo pounced on the golden opportunity, coming into the six-yard box and burying the open netter to stake Vancouver to the lead.

THe Whitecaps again caught LAFC off guard in the 38th minute. Vancouver had a free kick from about 28 yards out, Cristian Gutierrez sent the set piece into the box, and Dajome’s header floated over Romero and snuck in at the far post net to widen the Vancouver lead. LAFC however got a goal back just before halftime, though it took a while before they were able to celebrate it. Eduard Atuesta received a pass from Raheem Edwards, outmaneuvered Erik Godoy, then sprung Vela with a ball through the Vancouver defense, Vela dribbled into the penalty area and shot the ball into the back net. However, referee Kevin Stott initially called back the goal, as Vela was thought to be offside. Fortunately for LAFC, Stott got the call to take a second look at the play, when he did, it was determined that Atuesta’s pass was just before Vela got behind the Whitecaps backline, and the call was overturned.

LAFC finally caught Vancouver in the 76th minute off a wonderous strike from Jose Cifuentes. Francisco Gienlla played a short pass forward to an overlapping Diego Palacios, who then sent a cross into the penalty area, and Cifuentes one-timed a right-footed volley and the strike was perfect, as the ball got past Hasal far post to level the match.

“Cifu has been a bright spot,” Bradley said. “Little by little you could see hip coming around and in this stretch it’s exciting to see him now more confident, pushing himself, giving more to the team and that’s something that we’re going to keep trying to do moving forward. He’s done a good job.”

Vancouver however came so close to stealing the three points in the 84th minute, but LAFC caught a massive break. The Whitecaps were pushing forward, Caicedo played a ball to Gutierrez, who crossed into the penalty area, Tosaint Ricketts dummied a ball, which left Dajome unmarked with a sight line inside the box. Dajome shot a ball off the near post and crossed the goal line to put Vancouver back ahead, or so they thought. Stott however, ironically from the same side that Vela’s goal was initially waived off, but put back on the board after Video Review, called back Dajome’s goal, also for offside. Apparently, Dajome’s teammate, Janio Bikel, just happened to be at that near post, but well in an offside position when Dajome took his shot, and Dajome’s shot may have been interpreted as a pass to Bikel, and thus Stott waived off the goal, and unfortunately, Vancouver did not get the benefit of Video Review.

It has been a busy week for LAFC, as Saturday’s match was the third for the team in a week. LAFC lost a heartbreaker to the Portland Timbers on a goal at the death on Wednesday night, and Romero acknowledged that the busy week may have contributed to the team’s slow start on Saturday.

“It’s hard telling the guys to put more energy into the game after already playing two games this week,” Romero said.

And if things couldn’t get any busier for LAFC, they will play its fourth match in 11 days on Wednesday night, as they welcome Minnesota United to Banc of California Stadium.