If all goes right during this weekend's MLS action, LAFC could be just the third expansion team to clinch a playoff berth in its inaugural season. But first, the Black & Gold need to handle business in Chicago.
Bob Bradley and LAFC travel to take on a Fire team with little left to play for. After a dismal July and early August in which they lost eight matches in a row, Veljko Paunović's team had righted things just enough to go on a three-match unbeaten run. But a 2-0 loss in a midweek match at NYCFC sealed the Fire's 2018 fate. Chicago has been officially eliminated from playoff contention.
With LAFC a few short steps from securing its place in the 2018 playoffs, let's take a look at the Toyota Keys to the Match for the away test against the Fire:
Continue Creating From Set Pieces
Maybe I'm making too much of LAFC's two goals off of corner kicks against San Jose last week, but when you see how crucial set pieces were at this summer's World Cup, you'd be crazy not to value them. And LAFC has all the tools to make teams pay for giving up set-piece opportunities: solid delivery, good finishers, and big bodies to create space.
You'd like to see them keep creating chances, especially if they receive as many opportunities (12) as they did last week against the Earthquakes. Converting on two per match is a stretch, but even if LAFC can be dangerous on one in 10 opportunities, teams will have to think twice about how they defend LAFC in and around the penalty area.
Keep The Pressure On Schweinsteiger
Despite the down year, the Chicago Fire do have individuals that can hurt you if you aren't alert. Of course, the biggest name on that list is Bastien Schweinsteiger.
The ex-Bayern Munich midfielder has been moved around a lot this season between deep-lying playmaker and ball-playing center back. But no matter where he lines up, the German is going to be looking to pick out teammates with his incisive range of long passes. When the ball turns over in the opposition's half, LAFC needs to be aware of Schweinsteiger and be quick to close down the German. Teams on the road will generally sink back into their own end when they lose the ball, giving Chicago the chance to get Schweinsteiger on the ball with time to survey the field. If LAFC can be positionally aware even when losing the ball, they'll have the platform to go at the German and make sure he isn't comfortable enough to find those dangerous avenues forward.
Don't Let The Mentality Drop
This is from Diego Rossi after training this week:
"We know that this part of the season is important for us. We want to win the conference and we know that we have to be very strong. This stretch is going to be very important for us."
And Tyler Miller took it one step further:
"We built this Club not to be content with being in third place or not winning championships. This Club is here to win championships. We want to be in a situation where we can get a first-round bye and win the Supporters' Shield and go on to win MLS Cup."
Just because the Fire doesn't have much to play for to end 2018 doesn't mean LAFC should feel assured in the result. This match is the first of two in a row away from home for the Black & Gold. They'll need to rely on some of the things they learned during the successful six-match road trip to start the season. A smart, professional approach with little errors to keep the home side at bay is a must. That means controlling the match through LAFC's strengths: passes and being patient with opportunities.
LAFC need to be ruthless when the opportunities arise but smart enough to know when just keeping the ball moving is enough to douse the Fire.
