Despite a strong start, Ventura County FC couldn’t come up with a win at Rawlinson Stadium against rivals LAFC 2.

VCFC set the tone in the first half, putting LAFC 2 on the backfoot. Vicente Garcia nearly had the perfect start to the match, striking the crossbar in just the 3rd minute.

Garcia got another chance in the 20th minute and made it count this time. Eric Preston slipped past the backline on the left flank before squaring it to an open Garcia in the 18, placing it on his left foot to the bottom right corner. Garcia and Preston have a combined 3 goals and 3 assists in the past 2 matches.

VCFC had a chance to double their lead in the 28th minute, but couldn’t convert. Mason Vanney whipped in a cross from the right flank for Eric Preston. Preston tried to guide it with his left foot, but dragged it just wide.

HALFTIME: VCFC 1 – LAFC 0

LAFC 2 needed just 8 minutes into the second half to equalize. A corner kick play from LAFC 2 ended in an own goal from VCFC. 2 minutes later, VCFC conceded again. Sebastian Nava collected the ball at the edge of the box before striking it in the top right corner.

LAFC 2 scored another in the 73rd minute after winning the ball in the midfield. A quick counter attack ended in a goal from Erick Diaz, who struck it through the legs of Sebastian Conlon.

VCFC kept pushing for a response as time winded down. In the 84th minute, Gabriel Arnold struck one from 40 yards out, only to be denied by the cross bar. VCFC got a goal back in the 5th minute of added time. Issak Luna got past his man in the box before striking it to the far side at a tight angle. This was Luna’s first professional goal.

It proved too little too late for VCFC as the ref blew the final whistle.

FINAL SCORE: VCFC 2 – LAFC 3

MATCH DETAILS

Scoring Summary
20’ – VCFC – Vinny Garcia (Eric Preston)
53’ – LAFC – Own Goal
55’ – LAFC – Sebastian Nava
73’ – LAFC – Erick Diaz (Gavin Zambrano)
90+5’ – VCFC – Issak Luna (Vinny Garcia)

Disciplinary
45’ – LAFC  – Travis Babineau (Yellow)
56’ – LAFC  – Joshua Santiago (Yellow)
82’ – LAFC  – Gavin Zambrano (Yellow)
84’ – VCFC – Issak Luna (Yellow)

Statistics
Possession: VCFC 54% – LAFC 46%
Shots: VCFC 14 – LAFC 12
Shots on Goal: VCFC 6 – LAFC 7
Saves: VCFC 4 – LAFC 4
Fouls: VCFC 14 – LAFC 15
Offsides: VCFC 1 – LAFC 2
Corners: VCFC 6 – LAFC 5

Ventura County FC
41. Sebastian Conlon, 50. Riley Dalgado (75. Aaron Medina, 81’), 64. Jose Magaña Jr., 73. Enrique Martinez, 88. Mason Vanney, 76. Troy Elgersma (92. Issak Luna, 70’), 87. Gabriel Arnold, 49. Dylan Vanney, 45. Vinny Garcia, 57. Julian Placias, 95. Eric Preston

Los Angeles FC 2
41. Shuji Muramatsu, 32. Travis Babineau (62. Joshua Santiago, 46’), 35. Luke Goodman, 55. Erick Diaz, 83. Skylar Caplan (34. Giuliano Whitchurch, 65’), 40. Sebastian Nava, 36. DeCarlo Guerra (48. Gavin Zambrano, 65’), 67. Jacob Machuca (81. Ernesto Rodriguez, 78’), 70. Matt Evans, 90. Tommy Mihalic, 47. Marius Aiyenero (49. Charlie Kosakoff, 46’)