Photo courtesy of LAFC.
Ismael Tajouri Shriadi scored a goal on Sunday that will surely merit consideration for goal of the year.
It’s becoming more and more evident that this year’s edition of LAFC is far different than last year’s team.
The latest example of that came on Sunday afternoon against Sporting Kansas City. After spending this past week stewing over a heartbreaking loss to its crosstown rival LA Galaxy, LAFC rebounded in a big way on Sunday, though it required a little drama. LAFC erased a brief one-goal deficit with a goal from Cristian Arango, then a goal-of-the-year candidate worthy goal from Ismael Tajouri-Shradi followed by a strike from Jose Cifuentes enabled LAFC to get back in the win column following its 3-1 result at Banc of California Stadium.
“We’re happy with the victory,” said LAFC head coach Steve Cheruldolo “It was the right response from last week, I was quite pleased with the energy and mentality of the guys to not accept anything less than three points today.”
The three points earned on Sunday enabled LAFC too maintain its grip on first place in the Western Conference. LAFC is two points ahead of Austin and three points clear of the Galaxy in the West.
“Very happy because we are a team that is very strong mentally and that is very good,” Arango said. “We want to continue making a great team. I am very happy for the victory and more than anything it was at home.”
Tied at one goal apiece, LAFC took the lead for good in the 70th minute, and in spectacular fashion. Diego Palacios sprung Tajouri-Shradi with a long ball deep into Sporting’s side of the field. Tajouri-Shradi let the ball bounce on the field before he fired a left-footed volley that bended perfectly, as the ball sailed past a diving Melia and into the back net.
“The first sprint was a perfect ball from Chiqui, and then I said I needed to take this shot and told myself it may be goal of the year. I just did it and it worked perfectly,” Tajouri-Shradi said.
LAFC wrapped up the three points in the 78th minute. Jesus David Murillo played a ball forward for Carlos Vela, but he let the ball go instead to Cifuentes, who then dribbled virtually unchallenged into the penalty area, then fired a right-footed shot that got past Melia far post to give LAFC a two-goal lead that pretty much sealed the win.
Kansas City got a break in the 38th minute. It started as Johnny Russell pounced on a bad pass and dribbled down the right side of the field. Diego Palacios managed to catch up to Russell, though he still managed to get inside the penalty area. Russell took the ball towards the end line, then took a right-footed shot that deflected off Palacios and got past keeper Maxime Crepeau into the back net for an LAFC own goal that put Sporting in front. LAFC however got a break of its own in the 44th minute, which got them back in the game. Cristian Arango sent a free kick towards goal, but the ball went off the crossbar and was cleared out, Palacios kept the play alive for LAFC, then sent a long ball back into the SKC penalty area, Mamadou Fall headed a ball into the six-yard box and Arango finished the play with a header past keeper Tim Melia near post to level matters.
