On Sunday, LAFC opens Banc of California Stadium by hosting a familiar foe. After defeating the Seattle Sounders 1-0 in the Club's inaugural match, the Black & Gold are hoping for a repeat performance on home soil.
Here are the Toyota Keys to the Match for LAFC on Sunday:
Stay Alert To Runs From Deep
Against Seattle, the danger man is always Nicolás Lodeiro. But you run a risk if you only key in on the Uruguayan Designated Player.
Last week against Minnesota, Cristian Roldan wreaked havoc with runs from deep in midfield to the tune of two assists. LAFC can’t get caught ball watching with Lodeiro and forget to get tight on Roldan. And Dempsey too, for that matter.
The Sounders have the skill on the ball to force teams to sag in defense, opening space for late runners. Benny Feilhaber and Mark-Anthony Kaye will have to know if they don’t win the ball early in midfield, staying with their runners will be a key to protecting the LAFC goal.
Keep Marco Ureña Engaged
If Carlos Vela is the key to LAFC’s success, then Marco Ureña is the key to Vela.
The attention the Costa Rican forward demands from central defenders is what creates pockets of space all around the pitch for Vela to work. And despite entering the match goalless, Ureña’s league-high five assists have been vital to the LAFC attack.
The more touches Ureña has on the ball, the more he takes pressure away from his fellow attackers. That opens runways for Diego Rossi and Latif Blessing in behind the opposing team’s backline, and allows Vela to orchestrate with freedom. But that only happens if LAFC can control the midfield and provide Ureña with solid service.
Limit And Defender Set Pieces
The last time these two played, LAFC survived a late onslaught of corners and set pieces to preserve a 1-0 win in Seattle.
In that match, Chad Marshall was rested, and Román Torres was off at half. So LAFC didn’t have to deal with Seattle’s two most dangerous players on set pieces. However, both are expected to play on Sunday. Couple that with the delivery of Lodeiro, and LAFC will have to be conscious not to give up too many set pieces. And when they do, they’ll need to be at their best to keep the Sounders at bay.
