It's been four matches and over a month since LAFC last collected all three points against an opponent. On the heels of a disappointing late loss against New York Red Bulls and a shootout loss in the semifinal of the U.S. Open Cup, the Black & Gold have been struggling to put together a consistent effort over 90 minutes as of late.
On Saturday, they host a Sporting KC team sitting ahead of them in the Western Conference only by way of goal differential, as both sides have amassed 36 points over 22 matches. With a stretch of three home matches in nine days, LAFC are desperate to correct its trajectory while keeping pace with the teams at the top of the league.
This one is a six-pointer in every way, here at the Toyota Keys To The Match:
Another Chance For The Squad Players
The last time Bob Bradley had to drastically rotate his squad, it didn't end so well. A humiliating 5-1 loss in Minnesota had the head coach simply shaking his head in disgust. With many players having gone 90 minutes in adverse conditions at Red Bull Arena on Sunday, only to go 120 minutes and penalties in the humidity in Houston days later, Bradley needs to give some tired legs a rest. That means players that haven't seen much time lately like João Moutinho, Tristan Blackmon, and Aaron Kovar will be called into action once again. Each of those players has shown their worth in small patches throughout the season. With just 12 matches remaining though, it's time to convince the coaching staff they deserve even more time with some of the most important points of the season on the line.
Keep Away
Saturday might be like looking in a mirror for LAFC. Sporting KC set up in a familiar 4-3-3, like to possess the ball to control matches, and work quickly to regain possession. LAFC need to hold the ball and use it in the right instances. That means recognizes the spaces that put the other team in danger, while having the patience to reset when nothing is on. Maintain a connected shape even in attack. The more passes they can combine, the more Sporting will grow irritated, increasing the chances of gaps as the opponents pursue. If LAFC can win the possession game, there's a good chance they'll be able to draw Sporting KC into mistakes.
Be Patient In Defense
The flip side of maintaining possession is being disciplined when without the ball. Again, these sides mirror each other in a lot of ways. So as LAFC attempt to use the ball to move and bait their opponents, Sporting KC is looking to do the same. Against Houston, there were a few opportunities where LAFC defenders could have delayed in 1v1 situations instead of lunging into a tackle. More than once, the decision to act nearly caught the team out as an attacked skipped past a last ditch effort. The goal of LAFC's defense should be to squeeze the space and use body positioning to force Sporting lateral or into congested areas. Force the opponent into mistakes by tightening your positioning, not through wild challenges to win the ball back.
