(East Los Angeles, CA) September 20, 2020 [From The Editor’s Desk]: With the MLS regular season starting to wind down, each match takes on a more important meaning and purpose for the players, the Owners, the Coaches, and the Fans. That significance seemed to have been missing on Friday night when LAFC took to the pitch and matched up with their Far Northwestern opponents, the Seattle Sounders FC, on their home field, CenturyLink Stadium. To view highlights, click here.
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Photo Gallery Credits: Seattle Sounders FC @SoundersFC; Major League Soccer @MLS; LAFC @LAFC
Match Recap: Both squads came out prepared with their game plan, but in the first half, the Sounders were awarded 2 penalty kicks and their midfielder, Uruguayan, Nicolás Lodeiro made good on both of them for a (2-0) lead at the break. The first penalty was for a “held ball” infraction just about 8 yards and a bit in front of the goal, by Dejan Jackovic, and occurred at the 29th minute, while the other was more severe, and was called at the 38th minute after a foul by Latif Blessing. This time, LAFC goalkeeper, Pablo Sisniega, lined up and instinctively moved to his right, however Lodeiro’s kick was targeted to go high, while Sisniega could only go low to bat the ball with his right hand, causing it to rise with great velocity as it sailed into the netting for the point.
The second half was played like a “hit and miss,” “give and go,” style of play by the LAFC, even though they had the tremendous uphill battle weighing on themselves, due to the score. Yet, the Sounders appeared to put their game on cruise control while playing with a sharp and tough defense in mind. But somehow, at the 82nd minute, out of nowhere came Seattle’s brave, but small 5’7″ Peruvian warrior, forward, Raúl Ruidíaz, who banged in the last score of the match, on an incredible passing shot, that moved the scoreboard to a final (3-0) mark.
With their win, the Sounders, now after (11) matches played, have a record of (6-2-3 for 21 points) and thus are currently in the top spot in the Western Conference. LAFC, after (12) contests in the book, with their current record of (4-5-3 for 15 points) have slipped to 9th place, and appear to be in a “Funk” that goes with wins and losses coming at a bad time in the regular season.
Up Next: LAFC returns home to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps, Wednesday, Sept. 23rd, at 7:30 pm/PST. To watch go to: MLS Live on ESPN + ESPN in US; TSN 1/4 in Canada.
