With multiple games to make up after a busy summer, Los Angeles FC begins the process by hitting the road to face Real Salt Lake on Wednesday in Sandy, Utah.
Originally scheduled for June 25, the visit to RSL was moved toward the end of the schedule because LAFC advanced to the FIFA Club World Cup. It is the first of a back-to-back between the teams, who play again Sunday at Los Angeles.
While many MLS clubs already have played 30 regular-season matches, LAFC (12-7-8, 44 points) have played just 27. Only fellow Club World Cup participants Inter Miami have played fewer (26).
The games in hand give LAFC, fifth in the Western Conference, extra chances to improve on their playoff seeding.
LAFC look like a legitimate title contender with the addition of Son Heung-min, who scored in the opening minute of Saturday’s 4-2 road victory over the San Jose Earthquakes. Denis Bouanga finished with a hat trick to reach 18 goals on the season as the Earthquakes’ defense was stretched to the limit against the LAFC scoring threats.
“It’s a true pleasure to play with Sonny,” said Bouanga, who tied Carlos Vela for the most goals in franchise history (93) and most multi-goal games (13). “You see he is an amazing player and, off the field, he is a good person.”
RSL (10-14-4, 34 points) sit one point outside the final playoff spot in the conference. After a three-game losing streak, the club enhanced its playoff chances with a 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday.
“We take on a very good LAFC team, but we play them at home, and so the onus is on us to attack the game the right way,” RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni said. “… We have to get maximum points in these next few games to keep the momentum going.”
Diego Luna returned from United States men’s national team duty and scored a first-half goal Saturday while Alex Katranis added the decisive goal in the 62nd minute. Zavier Gozo, the club’s 18-year-old winger, had a pair of assists.
Luna, who scored for the first time in an MLS match since May 24, leads RSL with nine goals and five assists.
–Field Level Media
