Tag: LAFC

Giroud reportedly set for LAFC move this summer

Giroud could well be linking up with France teammate Hugo Lloris in the near future

Olivier Giroud is set to be the latest big name to move from Europe to MLS.

Per The Athletic, the AC Milan striker is in the final stages of contract talks with Los Angeles FC over a summer transfer that would come once his contract with the Rossoneri expires.

Giroud, 37, would join fellow France veteran Hugo Lloris on LAFC’s roster should the move go through. The MLS summer transfer window opens on July 18, less than a week after the end of Euro 2024.

With 56 goals in 130 caps, Giroud — France’s all-time leading scorer on the men’s side — is still a pivotal player for les Bleus, and barring injury is expected to play in that tournament.

Fabrizio Romano has reported that LAFC made a formal offer in recent days, with both sides nearing an agreement.

Giroud has had a strong season in Milan, leading the line as Stefano Pioli’s first-choice striker. In 36 total appearances this season, Giroud has a team-leading 14 goals, while his nine assists are third-best on the squad.

Should the move come off, Giroud will give LAFC an out-and-out No. 9 presence that the club has lacked since Cristian “Chicho” Arango’s departure after the 2022 season. Last year, Carlos Vela largely functioned as a false No. 9; since the Mexican forward’s departure this winter, that role has gone to midfielder Mateusz Bogusz.

The club has certainly worked to keep the door open for a signing in line with Giroud, with 2023 MLS Golden Boot winner Dénis Bouanga currently LAFC’s only Designated Player. Steve Cherundolo’s side has had a history with signing prominent, aging European stars, with Gareth Bale playing a critical role in the club’s 2022 MLS Cup triumph.

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This MLS playoff race is an absolute mess

Put on your boots, because we’re about to wade into a mess

The race for the MLS playoffs is promising that Decision Day will be as bonkers as it ever has been.

The final day of the regular season is less than a month away, with 28 of the league’s 29 teams set for two breathless rounds of simultaneous kickoffs, one for each conference (sorry D.C. United, you’re just going to have to follow along at home).

There’s an old MLS truism that a team just needs to stay in touch until late August or so, and that if said team can start to heat up around Labor Day, you’re looking at a major threat coming from what on paper is a low playoff seed. Plenty of teams with multiple MLS Cups in their trophy case have at least one season where they followed this plan to a tee.

However, in 2023 it’s not so much about getting hot at the right time as simply ending up next to an empty seat during a poorly-played game of musical chairs. Seven teams have clinched their playoff berths already, and two more are simply abysmal.

That leaves 20 teams vying for 11 postseason spots in what is an extraordinarily forgiving set-up. The problem is that almost none of this group seems able to get a solid hold on their invite to the big dance.

Put on your boots, because we’re about to wade into a mess:

Campeones Cup 2023: How to watch LAFC vs. Tigres

Bragging rights are on the line as reigning league champions from MLS and Liga MX face off

Bragging rights and a trophy will be on the line on Wednesday night as Los Angeles FC and Tigres face off in the 2023 Campeones Cup.

The game at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles will be the fifth edition of the Campeones Cup, which is held between the reigning champions of MLS Cup and the Campeón de Campeones from Liga MX.

LAFC won a thrilling 2022 MLS Cup on penalties over the Philadelphia Union while Tigres, the reigning Liga MX Clausura champion, beat Pachuca, the reigning Apertura champion, in the 2023 Campeón de Campeones.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch the Campeones Cup on Apple TV” link=”https://apple.co/463Mnpf”]

MLS is hoping to make it four straight Campeones Cup titles, with NYCFC defeating Atlas 2-0 in last year’s match. Tigres is the only Liga MX team to win the prize, having defeated Toronto FC in the inaugural Campeones Cup in 2018.

For LAFC, the game will also be a shot at redemption after it fell to Club Léon in June’s CONCACAF Champions League final.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of Wednesday’s game.

How to watch LAFC vs. Tigres

  • When: Wednesday, September 27, 2023
  • Time: 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT
  • Where: BMO Stadium – Los Angeles, California
  • Channel/streaming: Apple TV

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch LAFC vs Tigres on Apple TV” link=”https://apple.co/463Mnpf”]

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Half of Hollywood watches Messi, Inter Miami crush LAFC

Messi now has 11 goals and eight assists in just 11 games with the Herons

Of all of the stars at BMO Stadium on Sunday night, Lionel Messi unsurprisingly shined the brightest.

Messi and Inter Miami rolled past LAFC 3-1, in a game that saw some of the biggest names in Hollywood watch the continuation of Miami’s remarkable turnaround.

The likes of Selena Gomez, Prince Harry, Owen Wilson, Edward Norton, and Leonardo DiCaprio (and lots more!) witnessed what fans in South Florida and all over the country have seen in the last six weeks: Messi running the show.

Messi grabbed two assists as Inter Miami defeated the defending champions in a result that kept their playoff dreams very much alive. Facundo Farías opened the scoring 14 minutes in before Messi assisted Jordi Alba and Leo Campana in the second half.

After leading Inter Miami to a Leagues Cup title and the U.S. Open Cup final, Messi said after the game that he had his sights set on the biggest prize MLS has to offer.

“The group is growing more. I’ve been saying it since the beginning of all of this, we were lucky to get in a tournament and get to a final,” Messi told MLS Season Pass.

“Now, we’re going to look to hit the objective of being among the best eight to try and win the league. This is the way. We continue growing and obviously winning provides a lot of confidence.”

Even with Miami still one place off the bottom of the Eastern Conference and eight points from a playoff spot, who would want to bet against him?

Farías grabbed the opener with a tremendous improvised sliding finish, before Messi provided a pair of assists in the second half to put the game away. LAFC’s Ryan Hollingshead grabbed a late consolation in the 90th minute.

Inter Miami has now gone 11 games unbeaten since Messi’s arrival, with the Argentine tallying an incredible 11 goals and eight assists in that timespan.

LAFC defender Giorgio Chiellini was fully impressed by Sunday night’s opponent — and he said it’s not just Messi, Alba and Sergio Busquets who are making Inter Miami such a force right now.

“It’s not just about the three guys from Barcelona. They built a really good team,” Chiellini said. “This team is the best by far that I have faced in the MLS, to be honest. By far.”

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Chargers donating minimum of $50,000 to Maui wildfire relief efforts

The Chargers are part of the effort to bring help to the island after devastating wildfires.

The Chargers are lending their support to help the survivors of the devastating wildfires on Maui. They are donating at least $50,000 to aid the relief efforts.

The Bolts, along with the other Los Angeles professional sports teams have committed to donating a combined $450,000 to the American Red Cross.

“The images and video coming out of Maui over the past week are heartbreaking,” Chargers owner Dean Spanos said. “The destruction is beyond comprehension, and the loss of life is nothing short of tragic.

“This hits especially close to home when I think of the vibrant Hawaiian community here in Southern California and players past and present like [former linebacker] Manti Te’o and [safety] Alohi Gilman.”

Over 100 people were killed when wildfires swept through parts of the Hawaiian island.

“In the wake of recent events in Maui, the images, videos and stories of the past few days have struck a deeply personal chord with me,” Gilman said.

“Maui isn’t just a place on the map; it’s a part of my homeland, my connection to Hawaii. My heart resonates with the resilience of the people who lost their homes while also stepping up for their neighbors in need.”

The Chargers will donate their portion of their 50/50 raffle proceeds that they make during their preseason game against the Saints on Sunday.

Fans can start buying tickets when the gates open on Sunday until the end of the third quarter. They can be purchased on the concourse and at raffle kiosks throughout SoFi Stadium. The winning ticket number will be posted in-game on the video board during the fourth quarter.

Those who cannot attend the game can still donate to the American Red Cross to lend support.

“It’s been extremely heartening to see people from all walks of life rally around my people and return that love and support,” Te’o said.

“In life there are things that we simply cannot control, but what we can control is how we respond. This weekend is an opportunity for our Chargers ‘ohana to respond; to come together and assist Maui in its time of need.”

LA Galaxy-LAFC match at Rose Bowl sets MLS attendance record

The game at the Rose Bowl broke the previous record set last year at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte

Tuesday’s match between the LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC broke the all-time MLS single-game attendance record, with an announced crowd of 82,110 at the Rose Bowl.

That crowd broke the previous record set in March 2022, when 74,479 fans packed Bank of America Stadium to see Charlotte FC face the Galaxy for the expansion club’s first home game.

The Galaxy defeated LAFC 2-1 on Tuesday behind a first-half stunner from Tyler Boyd and a second-half winner from the influential Riqui Puig, after Ilie Sánchez had equalized for LAFC.

“It was an exciting atmosphere to be honest,” Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said after the game. “For me, personally, to be back in the Rose Bowl, to see it full, to take a second and realize just how far this league has come since we kicked it off in ’96, to where it is now.

“The level of the two teams. The competition tonight. Quality of players on the field. All of it. It was just an incredible venue. Incredible atmosphere. And, a wonderful game that I think entertained. As these games always do.”

The Galaxy and LAFC were originally scheduled to play at the Rose Bowl on opening weekend of the 2023 MLS season, before inclement weather in Southern California moved the match from February to the Fourth of July.

The 20th match in the history of the El Tráfico rivalry was the first to be held at the iconic venue in Pasadena, California. The Galaxy now lead the all-time series with a 9W-6L-5D record.

Largest standalone match attendances in MLS history

July 4, 2023: LA Galaxy vs. LAFC — 82,110

March 5, 2022: Charlotte FC vs. LA Galaxy — 74,479

December 8, 2018: Atlanta United vs. Portland — 73,019 (MLS Cup)

August 3, 2019: Atlanta United vs. LA Galaxy — 72,548

July 15, 2018: Atlanta United vs. Seattle — 72,243

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Bale to Messi on playing in MLS: Relax dude, nobody cares if you lose

The former LAFC star has spoken about a “chilled” environment in MLS

Gareth Bale has advised Lionel Messi to not get too down if he drops a few games in MLS because in his eyes, there really are no consequences for losing in the league anyway.

Messi’s hugely anticipated move to Inter Miami is set to be sealed in the coming days, with the former Barcelona star following in the footsteps of ex-Real Madrid star Bale.

After spending only a half season in MLS with LAFC, Bale retired this winter following the World Cup. Bale did not see the field much in MLS as he struggled with injuries, but came through with a dramatic 128th-minute header to tie MLS Cup in a game LAFC would eventually win on penalties.

In an interview with BT Sport, Bale compared the life-or-death nature of every game at Real Madrid with what he described as the “chilled” vibe in MLS.

“It is a lot more chilled,” he said. “If you lose at [Real] Madrid, it is like the world has ended. You are crucified. You feel down. You go home and you’re not happy.

“They accept losing a bit more. There is no consequence. You can’t get relegated over there. When you lose a game you go on to the next one. They accept losing a lot better over there. They know how to lose but they celebrate every win like you have won the championship. He will definitely enjoy it.”

Longtime MLS defender A.J. DeLaGarza took umbrage with Bale’s remarks, noting that comparing Real Madrid to LAFC is not exactly apples to apples.

Bale has a point though, too: MLS teams don’t have the consequence of relegation, and 62 percent of the league’s teams will make the playoffs this season. But he is also a rich and famous global superstar who won MLS Cup and the Supporters’ Shield in his eight-month stay in the league. Perhaps Bale is not exactly the authority on what the consequence of failure in MLS really could be.

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Cherundolo calls USMNT rumors ‘completely fabricated’

Sounds like Cherundolo will stick with LAFC

Steve Cherundolo wants you to know he’s not in the running to be the U.S. men’s national team head coach.

The Los Angeles FC boss dismissed rumors linking him to the open USMNT position during a Tuesday press conference ahead of his side’s game against the Houston Dynamo.

“The reports are completely fabricated and false. That’s all I can say about that,” said Cherundolo. “I’m committed to LAFC and I plan on being here a long time.”

Cherundolo’s 13-year career as a widely respected USMNT player, combined with LAFC’s instant success after hiring the 44-year-old, had been factors fostering a certain amount of buzz around him as U.S. Soccer entered its sixth month without a permanent head coach.

His first year with LAFC saw his side win MLS Cup and the Supporters’ Shield, while they went to the most recent CONCACAF Champions League final before falling to Club León. Cherundolo’s competitive record with the club stands at an impressive 36W-13D-16L.

That buzz took on a new form after two different reports on Tuesday. Another former USMNT defender, Heath Pearce, said Cherundolo was on the list of interviewees on an episode of the In Soccer We Trust podcast. Meanwhile, Fox Sports reported that U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker had already interviewed “more than 10” candidates, including multiple domestic options.

Cherundolo removes himself from contention

Cherundolo’s flat denial that he is in the mix to take over the USMNT still leaves a long list of candidates with a more tangible link to the position.

Hoffenheim manager and New Jersey native Pellegrino Matarazzo has expressed interest in taking the job some day, while France legend Thierry Henry openly mused on the prospect of being the USMNT’s next head coach. Gregg Berhalter’s return remains on the table, with Christian Pulisic among the players backing a continuation of his tenure.

There has been plenty of speculation linking Jesse Marsch to the job, given that the ex-Leeds coach is unemployed and has had serious talks with Crocker over a head coaching job in the past, but if U.S. Soccer wants to go that route, they better move quickly. Marsch has been linked with the manager positions at both Celtic and Monaco, and in general seems to be an in-demand coach who will have plenty of options throughout the summer.

In the meantime, the U.S. will head into Thursday’s CONCACAF Nations League semifinal with interim boss B.J. Callaghan in charge, and figures to play the upcoming Gold Cup under his stewardship. Callaghan is the second interim head coach to hold the job since Berhalter’s contract ran out, with Anthony Hudson’s term lasting a few months before he was hired by Qatari club Al Markhiya.

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Club Leon wins CONCACAF Champions League as LAFC falls flat

Steve Cherundolo’s side was subpar in both legs of the final

Club Léon has won the CONCACAF Champions League, defeating a flat Los Angeles FC 1-0 in the second leg of the final to seal a 3-1 aggregate win.

One year after the Seattle Sounders won the CCL, breaking a 13-year run of Liga MX champions, the winner of the region’s premier club competition once again hails from the Mexican top flight.

It’s the first CCL title for Léon, which defeated LAFC 2-1 on Thursday at the Estadio Léon in a game Steve Cherundolo admitted his side was lucky to only lose by one goal.

LAFC anticipated a much improved display in the second leg at BMO Stadium on Sunday, but instead it was more of the same for the MLS champions.

Looking to shake things up, Cherundolo opted to try out a new formation in a rather big spot. The LAFC coach shifted away from his typical 4-3-3 in favor of a 5-3-2 setup.

LAFC fell behind after 20 minutes, and the 5-3-2 may have been at least partly to blame. Léon right back Iván Moreno found a ton of space on the right flank with Diego Palacios pushed way up the field in a wingback position.

Moreno’s cross was met by Lucas Di Yorio, who did not get ideal contact on his strike but still managed to beat John McCarthy.

Admitting his mistake, Cherundolo made two halftime subs and went back to the 4-3-3.

But LAFC was slow to respond with the kind of performance that was expected of them going into the final, failing to generate many chances that could trouble Léon goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota.

LAFC didn’t show any real urgency until the final 10 minutes, creating a number of chances that either ended with the wrong decision being made or a finish that wasn’t up to standard.

It was a disappointing end for LAFC, which won MLS Cup in 2022 and entered the CCL looking like one of the favorites. Léon was, however, the only Mexican team LAFC played in the knockout round, having previously defeated Costa Rican opposition and two MLS sides en route to the final.

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LAFC somehow escape CCL final first leg trailing Club Leon by just one goal

LAFC got away with one at Estadio Léon

Los Angeles FC will be thanking their lucky stars and John McCarthy after their harrowing first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final somehow only ended in a 2-1 loss.

Despite being favored more than any other MLS team ever has been in a CCL final, the truth was that Léon will be left baffled by how they let the MLS champions leave Estadio Léon without burying them before the second leg (Sunday June 4, 9:00 p.m. Eastern, FS1/TUDN) even kicked off.

A bright start for Léon could have been ruined by an early injury to Yairo Moreno, but seconds after substituting him, the home side capped off their early industry with an inch-perfect William Tesillo header following a corner kick.

The early goal didn’t so much serve as a wake-up call for LAFC as it did announce that Léon would be bossing this game. McCarthy was under the kind of intense pressure throughout the half that no LAFC goalkeeper has ever experienced in the club’s short history.

Still, it seemed they might hang on at 1-0 down, only for disaster to strike. Ryan Hollingshead was called for a handball in the box on another set piece, with VAR upholding the call. Ángel Mena did the rest, making perfect use of the final seconds of the half.

Léon left some big chances unfinished to boot, while LAFC’s improved second half still saw them settling for low-quality chances. There were none better than Mena’s chance at a brace in the 58th minute, which was saved by McCarthy in what proved to be a critical intervention.

McCarthy was doing everything he could, and that ended up being critical, as LAFC would change the tone of the tie entirely in the kind of dramatic, weird fashion that is a CCL hallmark.

First, Léon thought they’d scored a dagger of a third goal at the back post, only for Osvaldo Rodríguez to see his shoulder-goal called back for a foul after he crashed into Sergi Palencia in the process of scoring.

LAFC survived, and then had a stunner of their own at the other end. A break upfield that Léon were emphatic involved a foul on LAFC’s Denil Maldonado was allowed to carry on, and Mateusz Bogusz’s powerful low cross picked out MLS Golden Boot leader Dénis Bouanga for a finish with virtually the game’s final kick.

LAFC celebrated like they’d won the game, but the festivities came with a healthy dose of relief. The second leg will require much more if they’re to follow in the footsteps of the Seattle Sounders.

Cherundolo: ‘Scoreline is extremely lucky for us’

LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo had no illusions about how the game went, leading off his post-game press conference by saying he was “very disappointed” in his side’s performance.

“[Bouanga’s] goal does give us a chance, but that goal alone does not help us win a final,” stated Cherundolo. “The performances of every individual out there, the performance of the group as a group, needs to be much, much improved. I think the scoreline is extremely lucky for us.”

That said, Cherundolo also noted that he knows his team can offer more, and that he expects them to bring their A-game on Sunday.

“We are experienced enough, smart enough to bounce back. We’re also fit enough to put in a much better performance on Sunday. And this team knows exactly what’s at stake,” said Cherundolo. “I am 100% positive [the] LAFC performance on Sunday will be much improved, and hopefully good enough to raise a trophy.”

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