LAFC 2, Colorado Rapids 0 | 2018 MLS Match Recap

Jose Romero

Lee Nguyen and Diego Rossi scored in the second half for LAFC, leading the home side to a 2-0 win over the Colorado Rapids Sunday night.

The three points for LAFC pulled them into a second-place tie in the West with Sporting Kansas City on 42 points. LAFC won their second straight game after going winless in the previous five.

After Nguyen's highlight-reel goal, the Rapids pressed for a tie in the second half with several chances but were turned away, only to watch Rossi fire in a right-footed shot on the run in the 80th minute. Colorado saw a three-match unbeaten streak come to an end.

The moment of the first half came when replays appeared to show a handball in the box against Rapids defender Danny Wilson, on a volley from LAFC's Benny Feilhaber in stoppage time. Despite adamant protests from LAFC, no call came and no Video Review followed, resulting in a scoreless draw at halftime.

Goals

49' – LAFC – Lee Nguyen | WATCH
80' – LAFC – Diego Rossi | WATCH

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: A stretch of five matches in 15 days across all competitions came to an end Sunday for LAFC. It wasn't the most successful of stretches but it ended on a winning note, which is key with a Rivalry Week showdown with the LA Galaxy set for Friday night. The Rapids were plagued by mistakes on the defensive end, but can regenerate with only two counting matches over the next three weeks. It was a nice effort from Jack McBean, who just missed scoring a goal on a couple of occasions.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH: The quickness and spin move by Nguyen in traffic, and then the expert finish, was the highlight of the night.

⚽️📽️ @LeeNguyen24 opens the scoring with a beautiful shot! #LAFCvCOL pic.twitter.com/s4AMLegWpV
— LAFC (@LAFC) August 20, 2018

MAN OF THE MATCH: Five saves for LAFC goalkeeper Tyler Miller in a clean sheet, but he got solid help from his backline led by the hard-nosed play of Danilo Silva. The Brazilian gets the nod for being physical against the Rapids' attackers and for this play, which saved a goal when it was 1-0.

⚽️📽️ Danilo ❌#LAFCvCOL pic.twitter.com/boSIBIEfUS
— LAFC (@LAFC) August 20, 2018

Up Next

LAFC: Friday, August 24 at LA Galaxy (10:30 pm ET | ESPN - full TV & streaming info)
Colorado: Saturday, August 25 vs. Real Salt Lake (9 pm ET | TV & streaming info)

Jose Romero

Colorado Rapids Los Angeles Football Club