LAFC fell to Real Salt Lake on Saturday by a score of 3-0 in Sandy, Utah, in a game that was postponed first by heavy wind, then by lightning, and ended up being played on a thick blanket of snow.
The white precipitation arrived after two postponements totaling more than two hours. LAFC fielded the same starting eleven that kicked off its season-opening victory over the Seattle Sounders a week earlier. The club brought only eight substitutes, five of whom had never appeared in an MLS regular-season match.
RSL built a 3-0 halftime lead thanks to two goals from Andres Gómez and a third from former LAFC star Chicho Arango (assisted by Gomez). All three scores scooted across the steadily accumulating snowdrifts and past LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who was making his second MLS start.
LAFC forwards David Martínez and Tomás Angel made their debuts for the Black & Gold late in the second half. It was a memorable way to start their MLS careers.
America First Field had been filled with fans at the scheduled 1:00 p.m. local kickoff time, but by the time the second delay, for lightning, came to an end after 3:00 p.m., attendance had become understandably sparse. A blizzard had arrived. For the next 85 minutes, both teams struggled to connect passes as thick, windblown flurries fell sideways and the ball sometimes stopped altogether on the snow-covered pitch. Players’ hair and beards were layered with powder.
LAFC created chances. A 30th-minute blast from distance by LAFC forward Mateusz Bogusz was punched away by leaping RSL goalkeeper Zac MacMath. An Eduard Atuesta free kick in 47th minute was headed toward goal by Aaron Long, only to hit the post. A 54th-minute strike by Dénis Bouanga caromed off the same post.
Real Salt Lake played with ten men after an 82nd-minute red card was shown to Braian Ojeda, but LAFC was unable to capitalize on the advantage.
LAFC resumes regular-season play on Saturday, March 9, at home against Sporting Kansas City at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The game will be televised on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Tickets are available here.
