LAFC: Success in the next four matches crucial for playoff race
By Daniel Garza
LAFC is entering a crucial four-match stretch where they need to produce
The Western Conference playoff race is extremely tight. Every club still has a chance to qualify for the 2020 postseason. As a result, the upcoming fixtures will be crucial for Los Angeles FC as they chase a third consecutive playoff appearance. Their opponents in the next two weeks will be the Vancouver Whitecaps, San Jose Earthquakes, Real Salt Lake, and Colorado Rapids. LAFC will need to produce victories during this four-match stretch if they want to move back into the top eight.
The best opportunity to get points for LAFC
Except for the Rapids, the other three opponents for LAFC in the next two weeks are all in the bottom half of the table. On Wednesday, they will face the Whitecaps who are club level on points with LAFC. They have been an inconsistent side in 2020 and are certainly a club LAFC has a chance to get all three points against. Rounding out this week will be another fixture against the Earthquakes. LAFC won soundly 5-1 the last time they met three weeks ago.
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Looking ahead to RSL and the Rapids, these are two sides who have also struggled to stay consistent as of late. RSL defeated LAFC 3-0 in the previous meeting. However, they have lost their last two matches since the victory.
For this reason, there may be an opportunity for LAFC to take all three points in the rematch. The Rapids have been trending upwards with two wins from their last three matches but a 4-1 loss to FC Dallas displayed they can be beaten by a talented attacking unit.
The best-case scenario for LAFC here is to take three wins away from these four matches. That would set them up well for the rest of the season as opponents near the top of the table in both the Eastern and Western Conferences await. Opportunities for points will be harder to come by as they enter the latter weeks of the season.
Tough competition awaits down the road for LAFC
One of the reasons these next four matches are so crucial to LAFC’s success is the opponents that await after the next two weeks. The current top clubs in the Eastern and Western Conferences are on the schedule in back-to-back matches right after this four-match stretch ends. Over the course of four days, LAFC will play the Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders. These are going to be very tough fixtures against clubs in top form. Points are going to be hard to come by against these two clubs.
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Looking further down the road the Los Angeles Galaxy is on the schedule as well as two matches against the Portland Timbers. Those are two clubs who have already defeated LAFC this season and once again points won’t be easy to come by. The playoff places could very well be settled on Decision Day in November. Every point is going to count and LAFC needs to get victories soon if they hope to get themselves into a good position entering the final matchday of the regular season.