Wetin happen for Providence Park yesterday no be small thing o. Portland Timbers wey dey find their leg since season start, dem meet LAFC wey dey fly like eagle for top of Western Conference. The match end 3-1 for LAFC hand, and e show say one team dey ready, the other one still dey find themselves.
From beginning, LAFC come with fire. Dem don win all their matches this season, and dem carry that confidence enter Portland backyard. Denis Bouanga, that Gabonese striker wey dey tear net, score two goals. The man na problem for any defender wey face am. Heung-min Son, that Korean star, still dey assist pass but no score yet for MLS this year. But e dey create chance like say e dey play with small pikin.
Portland side, chai! Dem don dey suffer since. Five matches dem no win, just draw one. Last match against Vancouver, dem lead until 90th minute, then dem con concede two goals for injury time. That kain thing fit break team spirit. For this match against LAFC, dem try sha. Kristoffer Velde score one goal give dem small hope. But LAFC defense too strong, Hugo Lloris that experienced goalkeeper no gree make anything pass.
Coach Phil Neville talk say im team dey improve slowly, but results no dey show. Defender Finn Surman talk say the players dey together, but on field, dem still dey make mistake wey cost dem. LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo just dey smile. Im team dey play like machine – dem no waste chance, dem defend well, dem attack with speed.
For tactical side, LAFC use 4-2-3-1 formation wey work perfect. Timothy Tillman and Marco Delgado hold midfield, give ball to Bouanga and Son. Portland try 4-3-3 with Joao Ortiz, David Da Costa and Jose Caicedo for middle, but dem no fit match LAFC energy. James Pantemis for Portland goal face plenty shot.
Other matches wey play same day include Inter Miami vs New York Red Bulls for NU Stadium. That one end 2-2. Lionel Messi score header early, Luis Suarez equalize late. Austin FC vs LA Galaxy for Q2 Stadium, Toronto vs FC Cincinnati, CF Montreal vs Philadelphia Union – all dey play as MLS weekend full with action.
But this Portland vs LAFC match show clear difference between team wey dey top and team wey dey struggle. LAFC don collect 19 points from 21 possible. Dem dey lead Western Conference with style. Portland remain with just 4 points from 7 games. The road no easy for dem from here.
Next for LAFC na match against another team, dem go want continue their winning streak. For Portland, dem need to go back to drawing board. The season still long, but if dem no start to win soon, e go hard to catch up. As MLS dey grow with new stadiums like NU Stadium for Miami and big players like Messi, the competition dey get hotter every year.
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