How LAFC’s bold changes dominated despite Portland tenacity

To conclude week two of the 2019 Major League Soccer season, the Portland Timbers travelled to Banc of California Stadium to play Los Angeles FC. Managed by Bob Bradley, LAFC reached the MLS Cup playoffs in their inaugural 2018 season, losing in the first round to Real Salt Lake. The team’s style of play from the start has been defined by quick, skilled attacking from the flanks, and their attractive displays of football continued this past weekend.

Led by talismanic midfielder Diego Valeri, Portland put on a firm fight, orchestrating hopeful counter-attacks and organised, defensive actions. Eventually, the Black and Gold wore out the opposition and won their second match.

Lineups

LAFC went with an unchanged 4-3-3 from their week one 2-1 comeback win against Sporting Kansas City, in which winger Diego Rossi and substitute striker Adama Diomande scored. In defence, Walker Zimmerman has had an impressive year at centre-back both for club and country. After rumours of a European transfer, Zimmerman re-signed with LAFC this past winter, and also scored against Panama in a friendly for the United States Men’s National Team.

The midfield, despite losing Benny Feilhaber to Colorado, is beginning to show consistency with Colombian Eduard Atuesta playing as the single pivot. Christian Ramirez began up front after scoring 10 goals in MLS last season.