LAFC vs New York City FC
MLS 2021 Season - Match Seven
Saturday, May 29, 2021
2:00 p.m. PT
TV: UniMás, TUDN, Twitter
RADIO: ESPN LA 1110 AM, ESPN App (Audio), KFWB 980 AM
Since entering MLS in 2018, LAFC had never lost three regular season matches in a row, and on May 22 the Black & Gold made sure to keep that streak alive, downing the Colorado 2-1 behind two goals from 2020 Golden Boot winner Diego Rossi to snap a two-game losing streak. Despite the atypical slow start to the season, LAFC is hopefully beginning to find their footing, and while there is still work to be done, the Club feels like there is only one way to go from here.
The win over Colorado featured the most fans hosted at Banc of California Stadium (10,483) since early 2020, and it showed.
“First, it’s great to have a home game with fans at night,” LAFC Head Coach Bob Bradley said. “That was great. Great to have more fans in the stadium. Even without it being packed, the atmosphere makes such a difference for us. It was an important win, and we had some really good actions, two really good goals, and then still some work to be done where in the second half we lose a little bit of our flow and allowed some situations to get away from us. But, I think we look at the bright side and keep working.”
Up next, is a New York City FC side that the Black & Gold haven’t seen since March 2019. In fact, the two clubs have only met twice in the regular season, both matches resulting in 2-2 draws. LAFC star Carlos Vela is ready for more minutes after playing 60 last weekend, the most he has played this season. Vela has scored three of LAFC four total goals against NYCFC in the all-time series.
Though New York City had a strong start to the season, they are winless in their last three matches amidst injury struggles to some of their own key players such as Maxi Moralez and Anton Tinnerholm.
NEW YORK CITY FC IN-DEPTH
NYCFC is a team that, unlike some of LAFC’s recent opponents, will make an effort to step up in a high line and look to counter-press when they lose the ball – a strategy which will give LAFC a new challenge this weekend. They are a Club that is very organized and have specific ideas about where they want to play the ball.
IT’S BEEN A WHILE
Generally speaking, LAFC believes they have an advantage when playing a club they haven’t seen in a while. LAFC likes to ratchet up the intensity to a high level, and with NYCFC’s depth being tested due to injures – the Black & Gold’s intensity could take a toll by the end of the match.
LAFC WILL WIN IF
The Club is willing to make deep runs behind the NYCFC defense. Rather than just being the aggressor and camping out in the opposition’s half and looking to score off technical and precise play – LAFC will need to push behind the defense.
NEW YORK CITY FC CAN WIN IF
They take advantage in moments when LAFC counter-presses, and take advantage of the fluidity that follows. If they can catch the Black & Gold in a vulnerable moment when Eduard Atuesta or Mark-Anthony Kaye find themselves higher on the pitch, they can find success.
