Friendly fun: LAFC 4, Vissel Kobe 1, Los Angeles

Los Angeles Football Club played their second game of the 2019 preseason, and hosted their second friendly against international opposition in team history, as they were beaten by Japanese side Vissel Kobe 4-1 Thursday at the California Stadium of Banc.

The game was pitted as a game between stars, with Carlos Vela and his crew taking on the three-headed World Cup Winning group of David Villa, Andres Iniesta and Lukas Podolski and their team squaring off. In the end, the home side comfortably held the visitors at Bay.

LAFC played with a pretty strong lineup to begin, with Shaft Brewer, Jr. at right Eddie Segura and Tristan Blackmon started as the central defenders once more,

The #LAFC Starting XI vs. @vissel_kobe#LAFCVK pic.twitter.com/EK3W1UXvap

— LAFC (@LAFC) February 1, 2019

Adama Diomande had a good chance in the opening minutes, which forced a save from Vissel Kobe goalkeeper Daiya Maekawa. Later in the first half, Lukas Podolski had a good opportunity for the visitors that went begging.

Latif Blessing entered the game in the 28th minute for Diomande.

LAFC opened the scoring through Carlos Vela, scoring a left-footer from just inside the 18-yard box, in the 32nd minute.

Before the break, Andre Horta had a blast ping off the post, narrowly avoiding a two-goal lead.

But Vela doubled his tally on the night and LAFC's lead, with a breakaway, in the 42nd minute.

Here's the highlights of Vela's goals in slow motion from the team account:

Welcome back to the Banc. @11carlosV nets two beautiful first-half goals! #LAFCVK 2-0 pic.twitter.com/PsnAy6QA8q

— LAFC (@LAFC) February 1, 2019

After halftime, LAFC rang in the changes: 

2nd half #LAFC lineup

Latif Blessing - 7
Ricky Lopez-Espin - 30
Alejandro Guido - 11
Adrien Perez - 16
Peter-Lee Vassell - 35
Javier Pérez - 12
Amadou Dia - 19
Lamar Batista - 17
Dejan Jaković - 5
Shaft Brewer - 28
Tyler Miller - 1#LAFCVK

— LAFC (@LAFC) February 1, 2019

No new names, with seven of the players unsigned and / or trialists on the field for the second half.

David Villa stayed on the field after halftime, and he almost scored a few minutes in the second half for Vissel Kobe, but the emergency defended kept him at bay.

Dejan Jakovic scored off the free kick service from Peter-Lee Vassell to extend the lead to 3-0, with a deft headed flick to fool Vissel Kobe's defense.

72' | GOOOOAAAAAALLL!!!

Dejan Jaković adds another! #LAFCVK 3-0 pic.twitter.com/kHdpEzu72w

— LAFC (@LAFC) February 1, 2019

In the final 10 minutes, Vissel Kobe got on the board, as a free kick from Ryo Hatsuse that Tyler Miller could not stop, to make the game 3-1

After Kobe's goal, unsigned players Conor O'Brien and Kevin Mendoza entered the game for LAFC.

Goalkeeper Philip Ejimadu was on a late sub for Tyler Miller. Moments later, Mendoza hit paydirt, scoring off a turnover to extend LAFC's lead to 4-1.


As always, the result is nice, and having the premier preseason clash going on is a good home for all fans. But it's just preseason, etc., and so no need to get carried away But this does make LAFC 2-for-2 in the preseason so far, with their next tune-up game on Monday against Columbus Crew SC.

What do you think? Leave a comment below.!