Los Angeles Football Club is back to winning ways as they beat Sporting Kansas City 2-1 at the Children’s Mercy Park. Carlos Vela’s late goal gave LAFC three points, and the Black and Gold are in second place in the Western Conference.
After two tough weeks without a win, LAFC won the game ugly against Sporting Kansas, who got an early lead. Denil Maldonado gave away a penalty inside the penalty area by tackling Gadi Kinda.
Sporting Kansas player Alan Pulido stepped up to make it 1-0, and Sporting KC took the driving seat.
After a bad first half for LAFC, the script flipped in the second half as Maldonado atoned for an early game mistake with his first career goal to help Los Angeles FC win in MLS play for the first time since May 20.
Both teams caused problems to score and win the game. But it ended up with Vela’s decisive goal set up by Aaron Long, who won the battle for the ball in the midfield and delivered a long pass downfield to a wide-open Vela. The former MLS MVP then ripped a hard left-footed shot past Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh.
LAFC thought they would win, but Sporting Kansas City responded in stoppage time by Roger Espinoza. However, it was waved off controversially after a replay review deemed a foul to have been committed by Khiry Shelton in the buildup.
After Sporting KC disallowed the goal, Vela scored to make it 3-1, but it was ruled to be offside.
Now that LAFC won the game, the players must keep their confidence and concentrate on the next game versus the Seattle Sounders this Wednesday at home.
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