Yet again, Los Angeles Football Club and the Vancouver Whitecaps had another battle in an elimination format. In this case, a questionable ¨best of three* system. BMO Stadium witness a 2-1 victory of their beloved Black and Gold against one of the three Canadian teams that participate in the MLS. Minutes before the final whistle, Carlos Vela entered to the field after ten months.
With Carlos Vela sitting in the bench LAFC had Hugo Lloris in goal; three central defenders leaded by captain Aaron Long, Maxime Chanot and Sergi Palencia: a dynamic midfield with Timothy Tilman and Lewis O{´Brien in the midfield, Cristian Olivera and Rayan Hollingshead playing in the wings, and Mareus Bogusz, Denis Bouanga and Oliver Giroud in attack.
Seeking to create more spaces in attack, Cristian Olivera played as a winger, in moments all the way through the back with a 5-2-3 system. Such modification gave the Black and Gold another threat in attack, which gave LAFC an opportunity from the penalty spor. Denis Bouanga placed the ball in the net giving LAFC the ona-goal advantage.His new role gave him advantages, to the point that at the 57th minute, the same Cristian Olivera scored the second and final goal for the Black and Gold. The counter attack came from the left side of Rayan Hollingshead, a pass to the midfle taken by Mateus Bogusz, and a surprising incorporation in the wide right area by Cristian Olivera.
During stoppage time, the Whitecaps scored thanks to a defensive mistake by LAFC defenders and a strike by Ryan Gauld. It was too late; thus, LAFC won the first out of the ¨best of three¨ games. The next one will take place next Sunday at BC Place in the not less questionable turf.
In the 85th minute, the momments all have been waiting for took place A loud BMO Stadium welcomed back one of its biggest legends. Carlos Vela played a professional soccer game after ten long months that, with such a warm welcome, felt like time did not pass. The 3252 and the rest of the more than 20,000 attendees were glad to have Carlos Vela back.