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LAFC Vs Toronto FC: 3 takeaways from victory – Vela dominates

ByDaniel Garza|
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 26: Carlos Vela of LAFC Los Angeles Football Club during the MLS match between LAFC and LA Galaxy at Banc of California Stadium on July 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 26: Carlos Vela of LAFC Los Angeles Football Club during the MLS match between LAFC and LA Galaxy at Banc of California Stadium on July 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 26: Carlos Vela of LAFC Los Angeles Football Club during the MLS match between LAFC and LA Galaxy at Banc of California Stadium on July 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)

Carlos Vela’s brace helped lift LAFC to a 4-2 road win against Toronto FC. Here are three takeaways from the victory.

A goal-filled evening at BMO Field resulted in all three points for Los Angeles FC. Carlos Vela was the star of the show; the forward was directly involved in three of the four goals scored by the away side as they carved open Toronto FC with some lovely play.

This was a huge win for LAFC, who now well and truly establish themselves as one of the key contenders in the West. Toronto, on the other hand, after two successive defeats, must now have given up on their slim playoff hopes.

The first goal for Vela was a bit unconventional as he redirected a Diego Rossi shot from outside the 18-yard box past Clint Irwin. There was some controversy around the opening tally as it appeared to go off the arm of Vela. VAR was not called into play for a further look by the head official, however.

At halftime, it was 1-0 and it appeared that an intense and competitive second half was on the horizon. However, it didn’t go as one would have thought. Toronto came out sluggish to start and LAFC punished them with two goals in the span of two minutes. Rossi blasted a volley into the back of the net and Lee Nguyen finished off a well-worked team goal.

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Toronto did their best to make it a competitive match as they came within one goal thanks to a brace from Jozy Altidore, but Vela closed the door on the Toronto comeback as he snuck a shot past Irwin to make it 4-2 in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.

Here are three takeaways from the match.

LAFC, Carlos Vela
LAFC, Carlos Vela

3. Vela shines again

What a night it was for Carlos Vela. The former Arsenal star rose to the occasion once again and lifted LAFC to a massive road win against the defending Major League Soccer Champions.

Although his first goal was a bit of luck, his involvement in Nguyen’s goal was a thing of beauty. Vela took the ball and weaved his way through a pair of defenders and set up his teammate for the third goal of the match.

His last goal was also the result of hard work as he slid his way into the box and placed a thumping shot from a tight angle perfectly past Irwin. This was a brilliant performance from Vela. If he continues to play like this, LAFC will be difficult to stop.

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