Photos courtesy of LAFC.
Danny Musovski, right, was the catalyst for LAFC with a brace against Seattle on Sunday,
It has been a trying time for LAFC.
LAFC’s restart hasn’t gone quite as planned. LAFC lost four of its last five matches to resume the season, with two of those losses to cross-town rival LA Galaxy. On top of that, LAFC has been without reigning league MVP Carlos Vela to a knee injury in the first game back in the restart.
Then on Sunday evening against the Seattle Sounders, LAFC lost a staple in its midfield, Mark-Anthony Kaye to an apparent ankle injury early in the match. LAFC however did not let the loss affect them, as Danny Musovski’s brace carried LAFC past the Sounders 3-1 at Banc of California Stadium.
“I’m just very happy that we were able to pull through and that we were able to suffer as a team in the moments where we had to suffer, and then we were able to get the three points,” LAFC Keeper Pablo Sisniega said.
The win was important for LAFC, as they are now in fourth place in the Western Conference, one point ahead of Minnesota United. LAFC is also within striking distance of the top three teams in the conference with six matches to play.
“I’m really proud of the guys. LAFC head coach Bob Bradley said. “Some guys that haven’t played regularly really did an excellent job tonight. Great game from Danny Musovski. We certainly feel good about the improvement that we’ve seen in him, and so tonight is a big game.”
The injury to Kaye occured at the start of the match. A touch by Kaye was a little heavy, and Yeimar Gomez saw a chance to take back possession for the Sounders. Gomez did get the ball, but also clipped Kaye, sending him to the ground in apparent pain. Kaye was subbed out in the sixth minute for Andy Najar.
However, rather than get down on themselves, LAFC used the loss of Kaye as a rallying cry. LAFC took the lead in the 15th minute, as Eduard Atuesta sent a free kick into the penalty area and Musovski headed a ball past Keeper Stefan Frei far post.
LAFC took the lead into halftime, then doubled it in the 65th minute. Jordan Harvey back-heeled a ball to Christian Torres, who then crossed to Bradley Wright-Phillips inside the penalty area. Wright-Phillips looked to shoot, but struggled to get control of the ball all while being swarmed by Sounders. Wright-Phillips instead got a pass off to Francisco Ginella, who one-timed a shot that beat Frei near post.
Seattle made things interesting in the 77th minute, as Nico Lodeiro sent a free kick from about 25 yards out past Sisniega at the near post. Musovski however set aside any thought of a Seattle comeback in the 84th minute. Dejan Jakovic sent a long ball for Wright-Phillips into the penalty area, Wright-Phillips played a ball back to a trailing Latiff Blessing, who one-timed a laser right at goal, Frei made a spectacular stop, Gomez tried to clear the ball, but Blessing disrupted the clearance well enough for Musovski to fired a left-footed shot past Frei far post to seal the three points.
“My job is just to play,” Musovski said. “I just try to do well when I get on the pitch, and yeah, I’m happy to get the praise and I’m happy for the team to win, and that’s where my focus is at.”
LAFC will spend the next week in Portland, as they face the Vancouver Whitecaps at Providence Part on Wednesday, followed a Sunday night tilt with the host Timbers.
