Weekend preview: LAFC should get again on observe vs. Atlanta

Los Angeles FC will attempt to recover from final week’s “Zlataning” after they face reigning champs Atlanta United on Friday evening on ESPN, whereas Houston’s magic man Mauro Manotas tries to proceed Seattle’s distress and D.C. United welcome again a rested Wayne Rooney after they meet Chicago.

Here is what to look at for in MLS Week 21.

The Hangover, Half III

Although Los Angeles FC have been wildly profitable of their brief MLS lifetime, there’s nonetheless the nagging matter that they’ve but to beat metropolis rivals Los Angeles Galaxy. Final Friday, Zlatan Ibrahimovic backed up all of the discuss and put LAFC to the sword with a hat trick in a Three-2 win, giving Bob Bradley & Co. flashbacks to final season when LAFC squandered three-goal and two-goal leads in opposition to the Galaxy of their fixtures.

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Maybe not talked about sufficient is the lasting injury that might come from final Friday’s loss. The previous saying from any coach is to not let one loss beat you twice, but that is what occurred final season to LAFC. Per week after Ibrahimovic’s superman debut brace, LAFC promptly went to Atlanta and received thumped 5-Zero. The two-2 draw final July, through which LAFC held a 2-Zero lead going into the ultimate 10 minutes, was additionally adopted up with extra ache within the type of losses to the New York Purple Bulls and Sporting Kansas Metropolis.

LAFC slid into yet one more derby defeat final week and will likely be hoping to instantly get again on observe vs. Atlanta. Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports activities

Although LAFC could not reverse their destiny in opposition to the Galaxy, they’ll cease the hangover and use Atlanta United as their private Alka-Seltzer when the 2 sides meet on Friday (10 p.m. ET, ESPN). Three factors in entrance of the house followers in opposition to a top quality opponent would go a good distance towards erasing their Zlatan nightmares for the second, however it definitely will not be simple.

It has been a rocky debut MLS season for Atlanta playmaker Pity Martinez however one thing clicked final week when he got here off the bench to attain and add an help in a 2-Zero win over DC United. It may need been sufficient to earn a spot again in coach Frank de Boer’s beginning XI and Martinez was at all times one to shine in large video games at River Plate. Atlanta followers will definitely hope that final week wasn’t a false daybreak.

Houston’s Manotas magic present

The Houston Dynamo could have the league’s lowest group payroll however that does not imply they’re missing for high quality. For an instance, look no additional than Mauro Manotas, who has been one of many league’s most constant performers, with 10 objectives in 2017 and 19 objectives in 2018. But it actually wasn’t till this week when most folk exterior of Houston’s Beltway eight took discover of the Colombian, thanks largely to his golazo in opposition to Toronto FC.

Manotas is significantly underrated however a current objective has put him on the map. Can he repeat the feat vs. Seattle? Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports activities

At age 24, Manotas is poised to be certainly one of Main League Soccer’s higher bits of enterprise at any time when he will get offered. Rumored to have a $7 million price ticket, Manotas has heavy curiosity from Liga MX aspect Cruz Azul however after final week’s “wondergoal,” the possibilities are good that the value has gone up.

Manotas’ subsequent act comes at residence on Saturday in opposition to the Seattle Sounders (eight p.m. ET, ESPN+), who would really like nothing higher than to recover from final Sunday’s 2-1 residence loss to rivals Portland. Contemplating that seven of Manotas’ eight objectives this season have come at residence, Seattle’s protection should be those to tug a rabbit out of a hat.

The rewards of a rested Rooney

An attention-grabbing factor occurred final week within the nation’s capital when D.C. United boss Ben Olsen elected to present Wayne Rooney a relaxation, permitting the famous person striker to sit down out final Sunday’s go to to Atlanta and recuperate from minor accidents whereas at residence in his native England.

Resting star gamers is nothing new when a group is concerned in a number of competitions however with D.C. United solely concerned in MLS play, the choice raised an eyebrow or two. However this can be a good transfer by Olsen, because the summer season warmth and a build-up of minor accidents have possible exacted a toll on the 33-year-old.

Rooney has proven within the final yr that he isn’t in MLS only for the paycheck so a extra rested, wholesome and appreciative Rooney will solely assist. D.C. United head to the Windy Metropolis on Saturday to face the Chicago Hearth (eight p.m ET, ESPN+), who’ve received only one league match out of their final 11.