LAFC keeps rolling with victory over Charlotte FC
Though their match with Charlotte FC was scoreless after the opening 45 minutes, Los Angeles Football Club’s eventual victory was never in doubt.
LAFC remained perfect versus Major League Soccer expansion teams since it joined the league in 2018, shutting down and dismantling their latest first-year victim 5-0 Saturday evening at Banc of California Stadium.
The result marked LAFC’s sixth consecutive victory in league play, topping the team record set in 2019.
Significant contributions across the squad, from defenders to attackers, have highlighted LAFC’s pattern of success in 2022, which has been predicated on its unmatched roster depth and unrelenting second halves.
Goals from Jesus Murillo,
LAFC 5, CHARLOTTE 0 Up next: LAFC vs. D.C. United, Tuesday, 7:30p.m., Ch. 13, ESPN+
Jose Cifuentes, Carlos Vela, Chicho Arango and an owngoal by Charlotte during stoppage time kept LAFC well ahead in the Supporters’ Shield race as their nearest competitors, the Philadelphia Union and Austin FC, were also victorious on Saturday.
LAFC probed Charlotte in the opening half, but were less-than clinical in finishing situations.
Charlotte (9-14-2, 29 points) could do little else but defend and scramble while the Black & Gold sent wave after wave forward. Meanwhile, LAFC’s midfield — including MLS All-Star Ilie Sanchez, Kellyn Acosta and Cifuentes — ably cut down counter attacks before quickly transitioning opportunities into their opponent’s final third.
With Charlotte’s high-energy pressing a non-factor, LAFC attackers, including Brian Rodriguez who made his first start since the end of June, danced in and around the box but lacked the final touch to deliver what would have been a deserved halftime lead.
Coming out of the break, however, LAFC ( 17-4-3, 54 points) picked up its stellar second-half play.
Needing less than five minutes to jump ahead following a corner kick, center back Murillo, starting alongside fellow Colombian Eddie Segura while Giorgio Chiellini was given the night off, leapt to meet a perfectly weighted ball that was hit over the top of the Charlotte backline hit from 40 yards away by Diego Palacios.