Photos courtesy of LAFC.
Carlos Vela made his presence felt against Austin FC on Wednesday night.
It looks like LAFC is starting to hit their stride at just the right time.
After an up and down first three months of the season, LAFC appears to be getting things back on track at a crucial time in the season. LAFC got goals from Jose Cifuentes and Diego Rossi, and LAFC won back-to-back matches for the first time this season, on the road no less, following its 2-0 win over Austin FC at Q2 Stadium.
“Another good three points away,” LAFC head coach Bob Bradley said. “A lot of positives, the team responded well to the challenge of these two away games, and taking six points from two away games is a good step moving forward.”
LAFC thought they had the game’s first goal in the 24th minute, as Cifuentes passed to Vela, who got behind the Austin defense, and slotted the shot past keeper Brad Stuver near post. However, the referee went to video review, and what the referee saw was that Vela was in an offside position, though not by much. Nevertheless, Vela’s goal was waived off.
LAFC however did not let that development set them back. They eventually got that first goal, and it was Cifuentes that took matters into his own hands, with a little help from his teammates and even Austin themselves. Stuver sent a goal kick out of the penalty area, but Kim-Moon Hwan got to the ball and quickly passed to Vela, who took a touch before passing it back to Kim, who took a touch before firing a shot that was stopped by Stuver, but left a rebound chance open and Cifuentes capitalized on the chance, slotting the shot past Stuver into the back net to finally get LAFC in front. LAFC wrapped up the three points in the 89th minute, as Vela sprung Rossi for the penalty area, Rossi got inside the 18-yard box and slotted the shot past Stuver into the back net to seal the three points.
“Our mentality was good,” Bradley said. “We did a good job finding moments to press, win balls leading to some really good chances.”
After two weeks of short rest in between matches, LAFC will finally have some lengthy time off, as its next match won’t be until July 17, when they welcome Real Salt Lake to Banc of California Stadium.
