LAFC midfielder Latif Blessing made headlines this week after he was very direct in expressing his thirst for revenge against a Real Salt Lake team that knocked LAFC out of the postseason in 2018.
“Saturday, we’re going to beat them," Blessing said in midweek. "We’re going to beat them five goals to one. We’re going to do the same thing [we did] at their stadium. We’re going to do the thing here. It’s payback time.”
The 5-1 scoreline didn't exactly materialize in their Week 4 grudge match at Banc of California Stadium as LAFC needed a stoppage-time winner from Walker Zimmerman to dispatch a feisty RSL side 2-1.
But RSL head coach Mike Petke didn't forget about that prediction in the aftermath of the result, also refraining from referencing Blessing by name.
"At least the prediction didn’t come true," Petke said. "At least we didn’t lose 5-1, you know? 2-1 on a blazer in the last minute, you take your hat off to that. But I apologize to the guy who made the prediction it’s going to be 5-1."
