Photos courtesy of LAFC.
Eduard Atuesta was all smiles after his free kick goal against Seattle on Saturday.
Despite the absences of Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi, LAFC put up a fight against the Seattle Sounders on Saturday afternoon at Banc of California Stadium. LAFC however could not make Eduard Atuesta’s goal stadun up, as Brad Smith scored on a rebound and LAFC had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
“I thought we held our own,” Said Bryce Duke. Unfortunately we didn’t end up getting the result, we got the tie, but I thought we played pretty well, got the goal early on and then just tried to stick with the lead for the rest of the time but, I mean, it doesn’t always go in your favor.”
LAFC got going just two minutes in. LAFC had a free kick at the line of the 18-yard box and Atuesta, who scored on a set piece back in the 2019 Western Conference Final, did it again to Seattle on Saturday, only this time, Atuesta sent the free kick under the Sounders wall and past keeper Stefan Frei.
LAFC eventually took the lead into the locker room, but Seattle was lurking. The Sounders had a chance at an equalizer in the 25th minute but a long-range shot by Cristian Roldan from about 25+ yards out hit off the left lost. The Sounders finally pushed across the equalizer in the 54th minute, as Alex Roldan crossed into the penalty area, Raul Ruidiaz headed a ball towards goal, Pablo Sisniega made the save, but spilled the ball back in play and Smith headed a ball past a scrambling Sisniega into the back net.
Vela’s absence according to head coach Bob Bradley can be traced to the quad injury sustained last week against Austin FC, which resulted in that strange scenario in which he was subbed out in the 22nd minute. Vela did not train at all last week, and on top of that, had a family situation that forced him to miss a round if COVID testing.
“From last week, [Carlos Vela] had a slight quad strain and he hasn’t trained all week, LAFC head coach Bob Bradley said. Then, there was a family situation and it led to that the one day he couldn’t get tested, and then when you’re not tested then you get on that other list. He’ll be back on the testing schedule but, again, had there been no family situation, he was not ready to play this week.”
Vela and Rossi’s absence would demoralized other teams, but with it’s roster depth, LAFC certainly has more than enough to compensate for the former’s absence.
“We pride ourselves on the way we train every day and we always try to push players so that when the moment comes, they’re ready, they’re excited, their teammates have confidence in them,” Bradley said.
LAFC finally hits the road next Saturday as they travel to Houston to face the Dynamo.
