By Tim Peterson
(Los Angeles) – Diego Rossi scored twice in the first half and they held up as LAFC beat Colorado 2-1 Saturday night at Bank of California Stadium.
Rossi’s first one came in the 15th minute as he was able to push one by Colorado goal keeper William Yarbrough for a 1-0 lead.
In the 20th minute Carlos Vela’s corner kick bended into the box and it appeared LAFC would take two-goal lead. But Colorado knocked it away.
Vela made an impact six minutes later as he set up Rossi’s second goal. He hit him with perfect dish and Rossi took full advantage as gained control of the ball and fired it into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.
Rossi almost had a hat trick eight minutes later but his kick on the run from the left flank flew wide right.
One minute of stoppage time was added in the first half but nothing else came across and LAFC took the two-goal lead into the half.
The Rapids got right back into it early in the second half when Michael Barrios charged upfield in the 50th minute, beat LAFC keeper Pablo Sisniega to the ball, and found the net to cut the lead in half.
The Rapids nearly got even later in the half but Sisniega preserved the lead with a save of a shot off the foot of Barrios in the 60th minute. Barrios got open and smashed a hard line drive but Sisniega made a nifty move to handle it.
Colorado also had a chance to tie it in the 87th minute but Andre Shinyashiki, who was right in front of the net, missed wide right.
Five minutes of stoppage time were added but LAFC held on for the win.
It was Vela’s first game back after missing the first five games with injury and along with Rossi they were the difference in getting LAFC back on track.
LAFC improved to 2-2-2 with the victory while Colorado saw a three game winning streak come to an end and fell to 3-2-1.
Next up for LAFC is a home game next Saturday against New York City FC.
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