LAFC enters the final stretch run of the 2024 MLS regular season on a strong run of form, perhaps arriving at the best time with only two matches remaining in the regular season. The team has also firmed up a position atop the table, battling for the top spot in the Western Conference. This will perhaps be hard to do, considering that their long-time rivals, LA Galaxy, will be hard to surpass; however, the commanding 3-0 win against Sporting Kansas City last Saturday showed that this team is ready for the tasks ahead.
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A High-Performance Team
Saturday's win marked a fourth straight for LAFC, including in the US Open Cup title in September against Sporting KC. Head coach Steve Cherundolo was pleased with the night's work from his team. "Overall, we're happy. Important points for us. Good performance," he said after the match, making sure to emphasize the importance of the victory.
This winning streak leaves LAFC a mere six points behind the LA Galaxy, with one in hand, and also earns them home-field advantage in the Best-of-3 Series of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs First Round. This may prove to be a decisive factor in its team's performances, as this team favors carrying momentum through to the end of the season into the playoffs.
Denis Bouanga's Factor and the Collective Impact
Forward Denis Bouanga's been at the forefront of this late-season surge. With a combined 19 goals and 11 assists this season, Bouanga has joined Carlos Vela as the only two players in LAFC history to eclipse 30 direct goal contributions in one season. While Bouanga didn't score against SKC, his assist on Cristian Oliveira's goal gave evidence of his ability to be decisive in big moments.
However, he is not the only star of the night. Young Venezuelan David Martinez, 18, has been in the limelight these couple of games. Martinez scored for the second time in three matches to make sure he nailed his position as one of the rising stars of the team. At the back, experienced keeper Hugo Lloris was impeccable as he kept his 11th clean sheet of the season, a new club record.
This blend of young talent and grizzled veterans, such as Lloris, has been the secret to their success. Aaron Long, a goal scorer in the win over Sporting KC, encapsulated the spirit of his cohorts thusly: "It was fantastic for the whole group, top to bottom," he said.
Embracing Adversity
Like most of the teams, LAFC has experienced ups and downs in this season. Coming off long runs in the Leagues Cup and Open Cup, the team then seemed exhausted going winless in five straight matches: 0W-3L-2D. Among those results was a painful 4-2 defeat in El Tráfico against the Galaxy that appeared to shake the team's confidence.
That is, until the US Open Cup Final victory. Lifting that trophy didn't just give the squad a boost in belief; it seemed to channel a new-found energy into consistent wins. "For us, this run continuing is massive. To go deep in cups and still be in the hunt at the top of the league is very difficult to do," Long added and stressed the commitment of his team to fight in every tournament.
Eyes on the Final Stretch and Playoffs
A victory against SKC now sees LAFC focus on the final two games of the regular season. First, there is a trip to BC Place to meet Vancouver Whitecaps FC-a tough fixture, for sure, especially away from home. After that comes the season-closing match, Decision Day, against the San Jose Earthquakes, a match that could very well go a long way in determining their position in the standings.
Whether they overtake Galaxy or not, the main thing for LAFC at the moment is to keep this momentum going into the playoffs with a lot of confidence. Head coach Steve Cherundolo has made it clear that this team's main priority is collective performance, and the players have responded on the pitch. Balancing attack and defense has been one of the hallmarks of this team that, when playing at its best, is tough to beat.
LAFC: One of the Favorites for the Postseason
The aim of every team is to head into the playoffs strong, and in this case, it seems like LAFC are doing this with precision. Having gone through a season full of highs and lows, it is now that the team has found its best soccer. Considering such a star-studded roster, blending the promising youth of Martinez with the experience of Lloris, coupled with the offensive power of Bouanga and Oliveira, the Los Angeles team has positioned itself as one of the top contenders for the Audi 2024 MLS Cup.
Be it first place or second in the Western Conference, LAFC has shown they can compete at the top level. The home-field advantage to start the playoffs will surely be an advantage, but what works for this team is truly the resiliency and battle in each match.
The expectation is huge, and already fans are dreaming about another trophy in their case. They showed that when the moments got tough, they could overcome it, but with the playoffs closing in fast, LAFC seems in the right track to be one of the standout teams in the final stages.