Los Angeles Football Club earned three points in their last two matches against Western Conference opponents; the boys in black and gold won 2-1 against the Real Salt Lake before losing away to the Portland Timbers.

The match with RSL saw our boys in black and gold dominate possession holding the ball 56.7% of the time.  This resulted in 29 shots attempted with 9 of them being on goal.  The goals came from Diego Rossi and Carlos Vela.  As shown in the second goal, it is evident that new comer Kim Moon-Hwan has found good chemistry and understanding with LAFC Captain Carlos Vela.  Their understanding is only going to improve from here which will bring more goals.

LAFC's next match against Portland was an entertaining game.  Unfortunately the two worst moments were the first and last of the game.  Both moments resulted in goals off of crosses.  The first one to start the game came after a Marco Farfan turnover and the second came off a quick restart off a throw in.  Outside of these two moments, LAFC dominated possession and shots, but could not find a way to get enough of their chances in the back of the net.   

In this twelfth episode of the 2021 season, writers-at-Large Alex Dwyer (from Yokohama, Japan) and Ryan Wallerson (from Copenhagen, Denmark), alongside in-house tactician Pierce Maher (one of us has to be in California., right?), breakdown LAFC's win over RSL and loss to Portland and previews the two matches against Vancouver and Minnesota.

LAFC Season Pass S03/E12: Review of RSL and Timbers Preview of Vancouver and Minnesota

Los Angeles Football Club earned two points in their last two matches with two 2-2 draws against Western Conference foes.  The fellas in black and gold missed a chance to climb the table and now are tied on points with Minnesota sitting in 5th in the Western Conference.

The match with Vancouver had a slow start as LAFC played their 3rd game in 8 days.  Their lack of energy in the first half was apparent and was punished.  Vancouver took advantage of a poor clearance from Kim Moon-Hwan in the 25th minute, giving Deiber Caicedo an easy tap in.  Shortly after, in the 38th minute, Whitecaps top goals scorer, Cristian Dajome doubles the score on a header from a set piece.  The response before half time provided hope as Edward Atuesta picked out Carlos Vela to cut the lead in half before the break.  With a much improved showing in the second half, LAFC was only able to find the equalizer in the 75th minute.  Jose Cifuentes hits a volley from a Diego Palacios cross that demonstrates his continued growth this season as he sits tied with Diego Rossi and Carlos Vela with a team leading 5 goals.  

LAFC's next match against Minnesota United started with LAFC on the front foot.  Carlos Vela was denied by former LAFC Goalkeeper Tyler Miller.  The deadlock was broken in the 40th minute when Jose Cifuentes intercepted a pass in his half and played the through ball for the Carlos Vela breakaway goal.  Emanuel Reynoso leveled the score at the 49th minute mark with a strike after creating some space away from Marco Farfan.  Tristan Blackmon got his first goal of the campaign with a header off a corner from Edward Atuesta.  Minnesota would play spoiler with a goal in the 95th minute from Hassanu Dotson which finished the game at 2-2.

In this thirteenth episode of the 2021 season, writers-at-Large Alex Dwyer (from Yokohama, Japan) and Ryan Wallerson (from Copenhagen, Denmark), alongside in-house tactician Pierce Maher, breakdown LAFC's two draws with Vancouver and Minnesota and previews the big Wednesday night game vs Sporting Kansas City.

LAFC Season Pass S03/E13: Review of Vancouver and Minnesota with a Preview of Sporting Kansas City

Los Angeles Football Club dropped points again at home in a 4 - 1 embarrassment against now Western Conference leaders Sporting Kansas City.  The starting lineup had to see some big changes at the back with Eddie Segura out for the season, after having a procedure to repair his ACL and Jesus Murillo being sat with a minor injury to his hamstring with no return date in site.

SKC came out with a plan to give the black and gold a taste of their own medicine.  They pressed the black and gold back line and were successful in disrupting buildup play in the LAFC defensive half.  A few times, SKC was able to quickly transition from their high press to their counterattack with a numerical advantage.  LAFC gave up three goals in the first half.  All of them came from turnovers in possession, two of which SKC went the length of the field to score.  The second half saw LAFC take their effort to another level, but it saw more goal scoring chances go unconverted.  After LAFC gave up a 4th goal to the visitors, Danny Musovski got a cancellation goal to avoid the shutout.  This was a deflating loss for the Black and Gold faithful as it is the third game in a row when LAFC didn't take 3pts at the final whistle.

LAFC will look to turn things around away this Sunday with a 4pm kickoff at PayPal Park against the San Jose Earthquakes.  This gives them an opportunity to expel this bad taste in their mouth from their home loss.  The 3 keys to the match are clear and obvious: 1). no mistakes in possession in the defensive half that lead to counterattacking situations for the opponent, 2). finish the clear cut goal scoring opportunities inside the 18, and 3). when adversity hits during the game, an immediate response of effort, energy and intelligence is mandatory.  The pressure is mounting on Bob Bradley to right the ship.  If three points is not taken this weekend, the black and gold could drop out of a playoff spot.  This game is important to get the second half of the MLS regular season started on the front foot.

In this fourteenth episode of the 2021 season, writers-at-Large Alex Dwyer (from Yokohama, Japan), alongside in-house tactician Pierce Maher, and guest appearances from Ben Bjelajac aka Benny Blanco and Sam Ko aka Slim from our sister podcast the FCFC pod breakdown LAFC's worst loss in recent memory at home to Sporting Kansas City.

LAFC Season Pass S03/E14: Review of Sporting Kansas City and Preview of San Jose Earthquakes

The crew does its best to make sense of the LAFC's record six game winless streak, diverting from the normal formula to hypothesize about the effect the All-Star might have and consider what might come next as the Black & Gold look to turn things around.

LAFC Season Pass S03/E15: Review of SJ Quakes/Atlanta, All-Star Preview of Vancouver/Galaxy

LAFC // NEWS //

Buying the black & gold ticket, taking the ride.

Ryan Wallerson (Writer-At-Large) & Alex Dwyer (MLSsoccer.com)

Theme: Sean Dwyer (IG @dweezus818)
Art: Adam Talan (IG @thedirtyboy)

LAFC Season Pass Podcast | It Never Rains LA

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