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LAFC Vs Houston Dynamo: 3 things we learned – No Vela, no problem

By Daniel Garza

LAFC, Brian Rodriguez (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
LAFC, Brian Rodriguez (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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REUNION, FLORIDA – JULY 13: Alberth Elis #7 of Houston Dynamo and Eddie Segura #4 of Los Angeles FC fight for the ball during a match between Los Angeles FC and Houston Dynamo as part of MLS is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on July 13, 2020 in Reunion, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
REUNION, FLORIDA – JULY 13: Alberth Elis #7 of Houston Dynamo and Eddie Segura #4 of Los Angeles FC fight for the ball during a match between Los Angeles FC and Houston Dynamo as part of MLS is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on July 13, 2020 in Reunion, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

2. Questions asked of the LAFC defense

Defensively LAFC continues to be inconsistent. For the second consecutive match, they conceded three goals. The backline has so far been able to produce just two clean sheets, against Club Leon and Inter Miami respectively, the trend of recent results suggests their defensive solidarity is only loosening.

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The Club Leon CONCACAF Champions League Round of 16 fixtures were examples of this inconsistency. They lost 2-0 in the opening fixture, conceding a raft of chances to the Mexican side. Then they came back to shutout their opponents in a 3-0 victory.

On Monday night, LAFC were dismantled in the first half. Alberth Elis wreaked havoc off the flank, Mauro Manotas pulled the center-backs all over the pitch, while Memo Rodriguez picked up clever positions in between the midfield and defense.

It appears that the LAFC backline is a work in progress. They have three players on the backline that are 23 or younger which includes Eddie Segura, Tristan Blackmon, and Diego Palacios. Dejan Jakovic, who started at center-back, is 34. With such a young defensive group, inconsistency is to be expected. These young players have talent, yes, but it may take some time for them to reach their peak.

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