In a barnburner of a football match in the US Open Cup, it was Los Angeles FC (LAFC) that scraped by with a one-goal victory over Monterey Bay Union in a 7-6 goalfest. This fixture was characterized by a significant number of goals from both sides, fierce competition, and disciplined defensive performances, particularly from LAFC.

Looking at the goal timeline, LAFC struck first, taking the lead in the first half. Monterey managed to equalize in the second half and even took the lead in the first half of overtime. However, LAFC demonstrated excellent resilience by equalizing in overtime and eventually winning the game despite being a goal down.

Monterey Bay's offensive prowess was evidenced by their impressive tally of six goals. However, they seemed to lack the defensive solidity needed for such a high-scoring match, with LAFC managing to net seven times. A notable point was their penalty, which while helping them in scoring, is often a reflection of a fortuitous decision rather than a systematic attacking play.

In terms of discplinary actions on the pitch, Monterey Bay racked up three yellow cards in crucial instances -- first half, overtime first half, and overtime second half, which could have disrupted their game plan and momentum. On the other hand, LAFC maintained pristine discipline, accumulating no cards, which might have helped in maintaining their focus more on their game plan.

Regarding set-pieces, both teams were almost neck-and-neck, with Monterey taking nine corners and LAFC eight. Both teams were caught offside only once, indicating good positional awareness from both attacking and defensive units.

Looking at the fouls count, LAFC committed more than double the fouls as Monterey (21 to 10), an aspect they would likely want to refine going forward as it could disrupt their play and give their opponents advantageous positions.

Overall, while Monterey Bay Union put on a strong offensive performance and demonstrated good discipline, LAFC emerged victorious due to their grit, ability to strike back when trailing, superior goal conversion rate, and exceptional discipline in terms of avoiding cards. The intensity of the match, as demonstrated by the goal count, fouls, and yellow cards, makes it an intriguing study for football bettors.

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