Home
FOX had a rare soccer doubleheader on Saturday, for once not relegating its soccer coverage to FS2. The national network aired Der Klassiker between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, followed by the anticipated matchup between LAFC and D.C. United, the top teams in their respective conferences in MLS entering the weekend.
The potential Bundesliga title decided turned into a one-way rout, Bayern beating Dortmund 5-0 so comprehensively Marco Reus had more touches on kickoffs more than in Bayern’s box.
0 – Marco Reus hasn’t fired a shot against FC Bayern and had more touches during kick-off than in the opposition box (1). Lost. #FCBBVB pic.twitter.com/eLzaKt9o7Q
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) April 6, 2019
The second match was just as one-sided, with Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi inspiring LAFC to another easy win. The visitors routed Wayne Rooney and Co. 4-0, LAFC’s third win by at least three goals in its sixth match of the season.
Rossi netted a hat trick and Vela had a goal and an assist to increase his MLS-best goals tally to seven, three ahead of Rooney and the Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored Friday night to the delight of the Vancouver fans.
Rooney had himself a match to forget, guilty of a shocking red card early in the second half, with D.C. already down 3-0, thrusting his cleats into the leg of Rossi.
ROONEY SEES RED! #DCvLAFC https://t.co/g2jvLPoF51
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 6, 2019
Terrible tackle by Rooney on Rossi. Initially given as a yellow, but then correctly changed to a red card after Video Review.#DCvLAFC #MLS #DCU #LAFC pic.twitter.com/WStS142n2E
— Joga Bonito (@Jasoninho10) April 6, 2019
There was no doubt the challenge deserved a red card; we’re still trying to figure out why the referee needed VAR to show the red after initially giving a yellow. Probably because Rooney is a big name. Rooney even knew he was going to be sent off after the VAR review, already giving up his captain’s armband before the ref pulled out the red card.
But the match wasn’t really about Rooney and United playing poorly; it was about LAFC showing it is the best team in MLS this year.
Vela, though he had a good day, actually began the match by missing a penalty kick in the 12th minute following a hand ball in the box.
Bill Hamid saves the spot kick from @11carlosV! #DCvLAFC https://t.co/pf7FBaiiGh
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 6, 2019
But Vela atoned three minutes later, the Mexican striker curling in a beauty from the edge of the 18.
Carlos Vela and his left foot. Name a more iconic duo. #DCvLAFC https://t.co/Nkmrm4Dkym
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 6, 2019
After that, it was the Diego Rossi show.
Rossi, a 21-year-old Uruguayan, was clinical in front of goal for Bob Bradley’s men, scoring twice in a five-minute span in the first half and then completing his hat trick in the second half.
His first came off a delightful assist from Vela.
#LAFC double their lead through Diego Rossi! #DCvLAFC https://t.co/wKdfWq7zA9
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 6, 2019
Rossi’s second was this lovely finish moments later.
Cool as you like from Diego Rossi!#DCvLAFC pic.twitter.com/MKlA5ID9Lu
— LAFC (@LAFC) April 6, 2019
The match effectively ended after Rooney was sent off seven minutes into the second half, but LAFC wasn’t done whipping up on the supposed best team in the Eastern Conference. Rossi netted one more time in the 76th minute to compound the misery of the fans at Audi Field.
Diego Rossi gets his hat-trick! #DCvLAFC https://t.co/79YfnwtuWk
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 6, 2019
Rossi now has six goals on the season, one behind Vela.
LAFC now has a plus-14 goal differential through six matches, winning five of those. With 19 goals, the club has seven more than Toronto FC, currently the second-best offense in the league, thanks in part to LAFC coach Bob Bradley’s son, Michael (not to mention Alejandro Pozuelo).
The18 Recommends For You
