Before I go too far in this, let’s clear something up.
Demar Phillips was bad on Saturday, but he wasn’t the reason Real Salt Lake lost against LAFC. And no, I don’t think the problem was a tactical one or a coaching one.
Instead, I think the problem is up front and in the middle.
Here’s a shot from the first goal. Notice stationary Joao Plata? He’s let a player run right past him, and it led directly to a goal. Should Demar Phillips have marked him closer? Probably, but he also has to be wary of the run.