It happened again.
LAFC’s players and coaching staff occupied the Dignity Health Sports Park pitch, staring blankly after another defeat to their cross-town rivals. This loss had real consequences as the Black and Gold were knocked out of the Open Cup.
A game that started inauspiciously with Carlos Vela exiting the match due to injury turned into a rout in the second half with three unanswered LA Galaxy goals.
In 15 matches across all competitions LAFC have gone 3-5-7 with a goal differential of -3. Of all the teams LAFC have faced, the Galaxy are the only team to out score them, They have the least amount of wins (3), and the most losses (7).
To sum it up? This isn’t a rivalry. LAFC wilts under the pressure when taking on the Galaxy. In eight regular season matchups, LAFC have yet to win a single road fixture. Home field advantage isn’t much of an advantage either, with just one win in the regular season and one win in the MLS playoffs.
Regardless of who’s running the ship be it Bob Bradley or Steve Cherundolo LAFC has not looked like the better team when facing LA Galaxy, usually playing from behind or losing a lead late.
After the latest loss coach Steve Cherundolo had the following to add. “I saw an LAFC team that was undisciplined tactically…preoccupied and not focused on what they need to do to win a game.”
Cherundolo could have been speaking about any game where LAFC face the Galaxy, to be blunt. Whether it’s a failure of tactics or mentality, Los Angeles Football Club are not the Galaxy’s equal.
