Despite the break in Major League Soccer play, Los Angeles FC players have kept busy over the last two weeks with international duties. Six of the team’s 22-player roster headed out to play for five national teams this past week. Overall, it was a solid weekend for LAFC stars as Vela earned the captain’s armband and Ureña picked up an international goal. But an injury that defender Omar Gaber suffered in Egypt’s game against Greece on Tuesday could stand as the biggest news for LAFC fans after the weekend of international play.
Carlos Vela — Mexico
The outing started strong for Mexico as it manhandled Iceland in a 3-0 victory at Levi’s Stadium on Friday, possessing the ball for almost 70 percent of the game. Vela came on in the second half, taking over the captain’s armband from Andres Guardado. The victory gave the Mexican squad a much-needed boost of confidence as it nears the World Cup.
That confidence almost immediately dissipated when the Mexican side then fell to Croatia in a staggering 1-0 loss that blind sided the team and left it much less comfortable than it was upon entering AT&T Stadium on Tuesday night. Croatia played without six of its biggest stars, who were released back to play for their European clubs, yet still controlled the pace and tempo of the night. However, Vela started the game and was one of the more solid pieces for the Mexican team throughout the game, showing his versatility and attempting to create movement.
Omar Gaber — Egypt
The Egyptians started their weekend with a gargantuan challenge — Portugal, headed by international star Cristiano Ronaldo. Although Portugal possessed the ball for 59 percent of the game, Mohamed Saleh gave the Egyptians a breath of life with a goal in the 56th minute. Ronaldo bailed out his team with goals in the second and fourth minute of extra time, but it was a promising outing for the Egyptian side.
Gaber did not see the field against Portugal, but he started at centerback for the game against Greece on Tuesday, which resulted in a 1-0 loss. He gave LAFC fans something to worry about, however, when he took a cross to his right leg in the 50th minute and collapsed holding his knee. Gaber was carted off after the injury, and will need rest before he can return to the pitch. His tweet below translates to: “Thanks to everyone who checked on me, a sprain in the inner knee ligament, thank god for everything.”
شكرا لكل واحد سأل و اطمن عليا الحمدلله جزع فى الرباط الداخلى للركبة الحمد لله على كل شىء
— Omar Gaber (@omargaber) March 27, 2018
This is particularly troubling for a team such as LAFC that already struggles with a short roster. Despite their impressive showing in the first two outings of the season, this program’s success rests highly on its ability to keep players healthy throughout the long MLS season as it slowly builds out a full roster. An injury — even if it’s short-term — to a starting defender will be a major adjustment for the team.
Marco Ureña — Costa Rica
Ureña shined over the weekend for the Costa Ricans, scoring the team’s lone goal in an outing against Scotland on Friday. The two teams were well-matched, spending almost exactly even time handling the ball, but both teams struggled to place shots on net. Ureña slotted one of his team’s three shots on goal into the back of the net in the 14th minute, and the Costa Ricans rode the lead for the rest of the game.
The team did not fare as well against Tunisia, again struggling to create momentum and find a way to place shots on frame. Wahbi Khazri scored in the 36th minute to give Tunisia the lead heading into the half, and the Costa Ricans failed to readjust before the final whistle. Ureña played for the first 72 minutes of the game before subbing out for Josué Mitchell.
Laurent Ciman — Belgium
The Belgian side only played one game over the weekend, facing off against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, but it dominated in its time on the pitch, starting off strong a pair of goals from Romelu Lukaku in the 13th and 39th minutes. Michy Batshuayi slotted a third goal in the 77th minute, and Kevin De Bruyne followed immediately with a goal in the 78th to give the Belgian team a dominant victory. Ciman did not get to see any action in the 4-0 victory.
Dejan Jakovic and Mark-Anthony Kaye — Canada
Jakovic and Kaye both started in their team’s 1-0 victory over New Zealand on Saturday, keying off a satisfying friendly victory for a team that is focused on a future farther down the road than the World Cup. The game was mainly a coming-out ceremony for head coach John Herdman, who made the move from the women’s national team to the men’s national team this January.