My Kind of Team: New England Revolution 0, LAFC 2

Los Angeles Football Club won their second game in a row, beating the New England Revolution for the first time ever with a 2-0 win at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday.

LAFC snapped New England’s club-record 11-game unbeaten streak with the win, and the black-and-gold remain unbeaten this season in the Eastern Time Zone following their first trip to New England.

Tyler Miller started in goal for LAFC, with Pablo Sisniega dealing with a shoulder injury, making a goalkeeper competition a moot point for the week. Both teams fielded full-strength lineups on the night.

The scoring began early, as Diego Rossi received a ball over the top and hit a beautiful chip eight minutes in to give LAFC the lead, the goal being Rossi’s 13th of the season.

It was pretty even for the rest of the half, although LAFC nearly doubled their lead a few minutes before the break. Carlos Vela’s breakaway chance was saved by New England goalkeeper Matt Turner, but the rebound ricocheted off Revolution defender Andrew Farrell, who made a terrific effort to run down the ball and clear it right off the line to prevent the own goal.

Several minutes into the second half, Teal Bunbury had an outstanding chance to tie the game up for New England, but his semi-wide open shot from the left flank was well wide of the target, saving LAFC’s blushes that time around.

A few minutes later, LAFC put New England’s goal under pressure, with Vela forcing a sharp save from Turner before the Revs cleared the ball quickly. Rossi kicked off that spell by sticking with a play after it looked like the defender had taken advantage.

It was more back and forth, but LAFC got an insurance goal in the 72nd minute. LAFC had a patient buildup around New England’s goal, capped off with Latif Blessing getting the chance, and after a patient beat, he made no mistake.

All in all, it wasn’t an easy LAFC win, but the kind of game where they have to dig deep and battle for a result. Carlos Vela was double-teamed most of the game and only really had success in kickstarting the buildup on the second goal. But Rossi had one of his best games of the season, and Miller looked good, not having to make many saves but controlling his area and preventing the Revolution from camping out there.

LAFC are back in action next Sunday, at home at The Banc against the New York Red Bulls. The Red Bulls won the Supporters’ Shield last year and dispatched of LAFC easily at Red Bull Arena, but it’s a new year and LAFC will hope they can return the effort this year as they seek silverware of their own. Should be another good one.

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