Carlos Vela was unable to lead LAFC into the next round of the MLS playoffs.
By Ivan Yeo
Already having stacked up the milestones in a dream inaugural season, LAFC yearned for even more on Thursday night.
Hosting its first ever playoff game at Banc of California Stadium, with a raucous sellout crowd behind them, and playing a Real Salt Lake squad that they had beaten decisively in its two regular season meetings, the odds seemed to favor LAFC to pick up its first playoff win.
However, the ball literally did not bounce LAFC’s way on Thursday night. A equalizing goal by Damir Kreilach that bounced off the framework was followed by a goal that hit off the face of an LAFC player enabled sixth-seeded Real Salt Lake to pull the upset 3-2 over LAFC in a game in which the atmosphere inside Banc of California Stadium turned out to a little too intense at times.
“The way we lost is difficult to accept because we feel like we controlled the game,” LAFC striker Carlos Vela said. “We created chances and we feel like we were the better team but in the end football is like that. If you don’t score goals and you are not tough enough in the back end, you cannot win.”
Kreilach’s equalizer was the second of two goals scored in the match scored by the first-year forward, who was signed back in February and tallied 11 goals. Real Salt Lake’s upset set themselves up for a Western Conference semifinal showdown with Sporting Kansas City in the first playoff meeting between the two clubs since the 2013 MLS Cup final, when SKC outlasted Real Salt Lake in penalties to claim the MLS Cup title.
“I’m a bit frazzled right now, it was a heck of an emotional game,’ Real Salt Lake head coach Mike Petke said. “This LAFC team that we beat tonight is one of the best, if not the best, expansion team. And then if you put that they’ve been in the league for 10 years my opinion wouldn’t change that they’re one of the best teams in this league, player for player, coaching.”
After a back and forth first half, LAFC pulled ahead in the 54th minute. Lee Nguyen sent a long pass to Christian Ramirez, who managed to stay onside. Ramirez, who scored twice in his LAFC debut against RSL back on August 15, took the ball forward, then fired a shot just outside the penalty area that beat Nick Rimando into the upper net to stake the home side to the lead.
However, the bounces started going Real Salt Lake’s way starting in the 59th minute. Corey Baird played a ball to Albert Rusnak, who took a shot that was blocked by Nguyen and cleared out by Danilo Silva. The ball however fell to Kreilach, who took a leaping one-timer that sailed past Tyler Miller, hit off the far post, but crossed the goal for an unlikely equalizer.
10 minutes later, another fortunate bounce vaulted RSL back in front. Brooks Lennon worked a one-two with Kreilach, then passed it to Jefferson Savarino, who took a touch into the ball. Savarino saw Joao Plata on the left side and tried to play a ball to him, but the cross instead deflected off the face of Walker Zimmerman, continued forward and Miller was unable to recover and the ball crossed the goal line. LAFC pressed for the equalizer, but LAFC was unable to capitalize on numerous chances, and frustration mounted, particularly amongst the fans, as objects were thrown onto the field late in the match, forcing a brief delay.
“There was a lot of hard work put into the game,” RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. “We scored some really good goals. We got a bit fortunate on the third one. The effort was unbelievable, and we were able to hold on.”
RSL was the first on the board in the 17th minute. Savarino played a ball to Lennon on the right side. Lennon crossed into the penalty area, Kreilach brought the ball down and fired a point-blank shot that beat Tyler Miller left post to stake the visitors to the lead. LAFC however had its response 31st minute. Vela drew a foul on the right side of the field. Carlos Vela sent the free kick and Silva headed the ball into the back net for the equalizer.
