LAFC Goalie Tomas Romero come way out of the box to catch a dangerous cross and deny a header by a Real Salt Lake forward last Sunday at home.
LAFC's Kim Moon-Hwan, right, looks to take control of the ball during an LAFC game this season
A big win for the LAFC against Real Salt Lake injected a jolt of joy throughout the Banc of California Stadium last Sunday, as the LAFC snagged three points in a 3-2 victory.
It took only 20 seconds for the rain and cascade of water, beer, and cheers to emanate from LAFC's support section, the 3252. Cristian "Chicho" Arango, the Columbian striker, got things started with the fastest score in club history, beating the previous record of 85 seconds set by Eduard Atuesta earlier this season. In the host's first sequence, Arango found the back of the net after a masterful attack to open the match, leaving Salt Lake stunned and searching for answers.
"To get off to a good start, to get a really good goal in front of our home fans, that raises the level of excitement," head coach Bob Bradley said in response to his club's win. "The crowd is so loud and into it at that point. So, that's a fantastic way to start the game."
Damir Kreilach dampened the joy of the LAFC supporters after he scored an equalizer for RSL in the 28th minute when the Croatian footballer curled a strike just inside the far post from the right side of the box.
The Kreilach score provided RSL with a respite for all of two minutes. Arango tickled the back of the net a second time on a header after he received a masterclass cross from Atuesta. However, LAFC saw the 2-1 lead they carried into the half upended shortly after the break.
RSL's Anderson Julio leveled when the Ecuadorian managed a breakaway after receiving a through ball from Albert Rusnak and sent a blast past LAFC goalkeeper Tomas Romero.
Toni Datkovich blessed the home club with the winning goal when he sent a backward pass beyond the outstretched arms of RSL goalkeeper David Ochoa.
After the game, Bradley stated, "This team has a good mentality."
The 9-6-9 LAFC will continue their push towards the playoffs when they travel to Portland on Sunday. The LAFC is in seventh place in the 13 team Western Conference and Portland is in sixth place.
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