Photo courtesy of LAFC.
Eduard Atuesta was the catalyst for LAFC against Sporting Kansas City,
No Carlos Vela, no Diego Rossi, no problem for LAFC.
With Vela still injured and Diego Rossi, the 2020 MLS Golden Boot winner and one of LAFC’s best players since the franchise’s inception, now in Turkey beginning a loan spell with Turkish side Fenerbache, LAFC was a a little short-handed heading into Friday’s match against second-place Sporting Kansas City. On top of that, LAFC had not won a match since July 17, a span of eight matches, and found themselves on the outside looking in in the Western Conference playoff picture. All those scenarios would have one assume that it would not be a good night for LAFC.
Well, someone forgot to tell that to LAFC. Mamadou Fall and Eduard Atuesta were the catalysts for LAFC, as Fall scored LAFC’s first two goals, both off the foot of Atuesta, who also finished with three assists and added a goal from the penalty spot, and LAFC got its season back on track with a 4-0 win over Kansas City at Banc of California Stadium.
“Very important result for us, LAFC head coach Bob Bradley said. “A lot of good efforts. We all knew going into the game that we were short on numbers, so we needed big efforts from everybody, and I think the players really responded with a game where tactically we had to tweak things a little bit, pick our moments to press, but in other moments be very solid in the mid-block, or sometimes even a lower block.”
LAFC got things going in the 19th minute, as Eduard Atuesta sent a corner kick into the penalty area and Fall sent a leaping header past Tim Melia. LAFC however asserted themselves in the second half, and Kansas City’s Roger Espinoza contributed to that in the 58th minute when his right leg undercut Christian Arango while he was trying to get to the ball, awarding LAFC a free kick just outside the penalty area. Referee Drew Fischer however went to video review, and Fischer concluded that Espinoza’s foul was harsh enough to end his night early with a red card.
Nothing came out of the ensuing free kick, but LAFC soon capitalized on the man advantage. Atuesta and Fall linked up again in the 61st minute, as Atuesta sent a free kick into the penalty area and Fall this time made a header with his back towards goal and the ball got past Melia far post to double the LAFC lead. LAFC continued is onslaught in the 71st minute, as Atuesta played Danny Musovski into the penalty area, Musovski’s presence drew Kansas City’s Ilie Sanchez to him and Musovski played the short cross to Arango, who took the quick touch and sent the shot past Melia near post. Atuesta wrapped things up himself in the 87th minute, as LAFC was awarded a penalty after Melia threw his body into Musovski on a goal-scoring attempt. Atuesta stepped up to the penalty spot and sent the shot past Melia at the upper right corner.
“It felt great, shout out to the team,” Fall said. “They all did the work and helped me. We worked together and fought together and got the three points.”
LAFC looks to build on the win next Sunday when they host Real Salt Lake.
