5 takeaways from LAFC’s 2-1 loss at Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City played like conference champions on MLS Decision Day Sunday as they seemed to completely and thoroughly outmatch Los Angeles Football Club at Children’s Mercy Park.

But, now we can get past all of that and look ahead to the playoffs … but not before we give our five takeaways from the Black and Gold’s loss in the Midwest.

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Sporting wins the West and played like it

For some reason, LAFC came out flat and just continued to play flat the entire match.

Whether it was the notorious home crowd at Children’s Mercy Park or simply because Sporting wanted the match more, LAFC looked out-of-sorts for just about all of the match.

Here’s hoping that is out of their system as we look ahead to the playoffs and Real Salt Lake.

10 men still doesn’t hurt

Despite the fact that Sporting played a man down after the 60th minute, LAFC was only able to capitalize on the penalty shot and nothing else.

There were several chances for the Black-and-Gold but playing out-of-sorts left nothing of those chances.

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Lineup changes

Bob Bradley used Eduard Atuesta over Aaron Kovar in the starting XI in Kansas City.

While some may suggest using Kovar would have yielded a different result, I disagree. That said, I think Atuesta remains in the starting XI moving into the playoffs. I think Kansas City just wanted the result more than we did, which isn’t necessarily conducive of needing to change the lineup.

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Here comes the playoffs

Well, they are finally here … the MLS Cup Playoffs … and we are right in the mix of it.

Their first match will be against Real Salt Lake, who didn’t even need to play on Sunday to make the playoffs.

Not to get too far ahead of ourselves, but LAFC has owned RSL this season, blasting them 5-1 at Rio Tinto and taking a 2-0 decision at Banc of California Stadium later in the season.

Here’s the official bracket for the playoffs.

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Guess who didn’t make it

Yeah, I know I shouldn’t revel in the misery of others, but not even Zlatan Ibrahimovic could save the LA (Carson … there, I said it) Galaxy as a 3-2 home loss to Houston eliminated them from playoff contention.

So, all of that bluster for nothing. Oh well, better luck next season!

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