Completing its regular season series with the Portland Timbers on Saturday, the Los Angeles Football Club needs a result to avoid tying a franchise-worst 10-game start in MLS competition.
Ceding three points to the Timbers would mark a first home defeat for the Black & Gold this year and drop them to 3-4-3, the same record at this stage during the only season LAFC failed to qualify for the playoffs.
What’s past, however, doesn’t have to be prologue.
More than two-thirds of the league calendar remains unplayed, offering plenty of time to rise in the standings despite collecting just 12 of 27 points so far.
LAFC appears to have stabilized from an unsteady start — a draw or a win against the Timbers (2-3-4, 10 points) would make it four unbeaten for Steve Cherundolo’s group.
Included in its first decent stretch of the year is a 2-2 draw in Portland two weeks ago, when LAFC benefited from playing with a man advantage for most of the second half after old friend Maxime Crepeau received a straight red card in the 48th minute.
A brace from Mateusz Bogusz rescued LAFC twice at Providence Park, just as Denis Bouanga did last weekend at BMO Stadium to salvage a point against the New York Red Bulls.
Cherundolo dropped Bogusz back into the midfield from his role as an attacker in the No. 9 position versus New York, opting to fill the hole left by Eduard Atuesta’s yellow card accumulation suspension with the talented 22-year-old Polish player while veteran center forward Kei Kamara entered the starting mix for the first time.
“I think when Kei plays we have one more player in the box because he’s always waiting for crosses,” said Bogusz, whose three goals this year matched his tally from 2023 in a thousand fewer minutes. “When I play I always come deeper and I feel like a 10. I play the ball to Denis or [Cristian Olivera]. It’s a little bit different but both work.”
As reports continue to link LAFC with the summer window addition of all-time great French striker Olivier Giroud (the club remains mum on the subject behind coy smiles and shrugs), Kamara’s large presence offers opportunities, and foreshadowing, for what could come.
Bogusz expects to return to the role he occupied in Portland as Atuesta retakes his midfield spot alongside Ilie Sanchez and Timothy Tillman.
“We try to use the players at moments where the team can profit the most from their individual attributes,” noted Cherundolo, whose previous two seasons at the helm netted 21 and 20 points through 10 games. His combination of players “depends on what opportunities the opponents hand us and what their strengths and weaknesses are.”
LAFC defenders must stay sharp against Portland’s opportunist attackers, who spearhead one of the deepest rosters Cherundolo has seen among Western Conference teams.
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Center back Jesus Murillo practiced and is ready to play after missing the Red Bulls match with a knee issue. His partner in the middle of LAFC’s back four, Aaron Long, requires a few more days to fully recover from the bruised shin he suffered early in the match against his former club when he crashed leg first into a goalpost, likely giving Maxime Chanot a second straight start.
Felipe Mora and Evander, tied with a Timbers-leading four goals apiece, bested Hugo Lloris last time out following lapses in defensive organization and transition defending.
“Those are two of the moments Portland is very, very good at and very creative,” Cherundolo said. “They are unpredictable at times due to the creativity they have. We did not defend those situations well and we’ll have solutions.”
PORTLAND TIMBERS AT LAFC
When: Saturday, 7:39 p.m.
Where: BMO Stadium, Los Angeles
TV/Radio: Apple TV – MLS Season Pass/710 AM, 980 AM, Sirius XM FC