LAFC defeats Club América in preseason finale

LAFC forward Denis Bouanga, top, vies for the ball with Club América goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota during the first half of their preseason finale on Tuesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

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LOS ANGELES — Looking to tie a bow on a fruitful preseason, LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo got what he wanted a week out from the start of competitive matches.

Trotting out the same 4-3-3 lineup for a third consecutive exhibition match, Cherundolo kept most of the group on the field deep into the second half of a 2-1 victory over Mexican stalwart Club América on Tuesday night at BMO Stadium.

“Club América has a fantastic team who really tested our guys,” Cherundolo said. “Pushed them to their limits. We’re finishing up our loading and fitness. You could see the fatigue in the guys’ legs. That tempo, that quality they haven’t seen yet so I’m very, very happy this game was scheduled.”

Denis Bouanga, Olivier Giroud and David Martínez started in the attack. Timothy Tillman joined 2025 newcomers Mark Delgado and Igor Jesus in the middle of the park. The back line consisted of Ryan Hollingshead, Aaron Long, Eddie Segura and Sergi Palencia, who all played in front of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Occupying the position Polish forward Mateusz Bogusz brilliantly filled for much of the 2024 season, Martínez, the 19-year-old highly-touted Venezuelan attacker, played 45 minutes despite not feeling his best.

Martínez “has generally come in this year in a much better fashion physically and he’s been able to participate the entire preseason, which he hasn’t been able to do yet in his entire career,” Cherundolo said. “We’ll get him physically into a spot where he can produce more and play more.”

Scoreless at halftime, Bouanga, LAFC’s back-to-back 20-goal scorer, immediately made América pay after the break for a weak pass toward goalkeeper Rodolfo Coto. The Frenchman pounced on the giveaway and coolly finished inside the box.

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At the 1-hour mark, Martínez’s replacement, Nathan Ordaz, made it 2-0 following a dashing run down the left side by Bouanga that created space to deliver a cross to the young homegrown, whose finish capped an impressive preseason for the Van Nuys native.

“This game was intense,” said Ordaz, who played plenty of pick-up soccer in the offseason to help him prepare for camp. “I don’t think anybody saw it as a friendly. I didn’t see it as a friendly. It was really competitive and I think we’re ready for next week.

“Preseason is cool but it’s nothing like the real thing.”

Club América offered its supporters in the south end of the stadium and throughout the venue – except where the 3252 operate – something to get excited by three minutes later when Jesus, the 21-year-old Brazilian, got too cute with the ball at his feet in the LAFC box, leading to an easy finish by Richard Sanchez.

The mistake from a true defensive midfielder possessing mobility and physicality didn’t dampen what was otherwise a terrific start to Jesus’ LAFC experience, prompting Cherundolo to glowingly compare him to a terrier – feisty and energetic.

“He’s exactly that,” Cherundolo said, “but at the same time having somebody who is technically proficient enough to calm the game down for us, or be like a mini-quarterback in there if you will and he’s been able to show that as well.”

Acquired in a trade with the rival Galaxy, Delgado said things were slow to gel in the beginning and remain a work in progress in terms of knowing teammates’ tendencies and executing what the coaches want, but Tuesday “was the perfect game to get us going.”

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Midfield saw the most churn on LAFC’s roster coming off the 2024 season, with Ilie Sanchez, Eduard Atuesta and Lewis O’Brien departing, prompting a new group to learn each other’s tendencies all at the same time during 24 training sessions and seven exhibition matches, including a closed-door scrimmage on Wednesday against a second-division side from Mexico.

Happy with his team’s work in the offensive and defensive ends, as well as transition in both directions, Cherundolo still sees a lot of work to be done ahead of next week’s CONCACAF Champions Cup match against the Colorado Rapids and MLS opening day.

“I thought we were in a little shock at the tempo and pressure of the opponent and we didn’t have great solutions,” Cherundolo said. “I’m actually happy we didn’t have the solutions tonight because it gives us stuff to work on throughout the week. It’s maybe never a great sign to be completely happy at the end of preseason. You’re always working towards getting better. And we have plenty of work to do with the ball this week, especially under pressure, because Colorado in Colorado is a tough place to play.”

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