OFF TO THE DESERT:
On Tuesday, LAFC headed off to the desert, looking to spend the final week of pre-season training in Palm Springs while also playing two final exhibition matches in Indio, CA at the Empire Polo club as part of the Coachella Valley Invitational.
It is the first year of the Invitational, which is hosted by the Galaxy and also features the Galaxy II, DC United, the New York Red Bulls and Seattle Sounders. The Black & Gold faced DC United on Tuesday at the Polo Grounds in their first match, losing 2-0 after driving in from Los Angeles earlier in the day. LAFC faces the New York Red Bulls at 12:00 p.m. PT in their final tune-up before the regular starts on Feb. 26 at Banc of California Stadium vs. the Colorado Rapids.
In the Club’s fifth season, this is the first time the team has travelled for preseason or spent any significant time training away from home to start the season. It is the perfect opportunity for the group of new faces to continue to bond and learn the coaching style of first year head man Steve Cherundolo.
“I think the more time we spend together, the better we will get,” Cherundolo said.
HOLLINGSHEAD MAKES HIS DEBUT
LAFC’s newest addition, defender Ryan Hollingshead, made his LAFC debut on Tuesday evening in Indio. The California native came on the second half and played the final 30 minutes of the match.
It has been a whirlwind few days for Hollingshead, 30, who was officially traded by FC Dallas for Marco Farfan on Feb. 10. Upon hearing of the trade, Hollingshead made plans to get to Los Angeles as soon as possible, jumping on the first flight available in the morning of Feb. 11 and arriving in L.A. around midday.
“It is exciting and feels good to be out there,” Hollingshead said. “I still have the heavy legs from the season and from traveling out here. I’m trying to get used to the guys and get in a good rhythm.”
Prior to appearing in Tuesday’s preseason match vs. DC United, the former UCLA star had three training sessions with his new team.
“Ryan is an extremely experienced player on the flanks and he also brings leadership qualities inside the locker room,” Cherundolo said. “We have seen that already in the first few days that he has been here.”
Hollingshead was teammates in Dallas with new LAFC midfielder Kellyn Acosta from 2014-2018, and the two are pleased to be reunited in L.A.
“There is some talent out there for us,” Hollingshead said about his new team. “There is a lot of talent here and now we just need to put it together.”
A native of Granite Bay, CA in Northern California, Hollingshead starred at UCLA from 2009-2012, earning Pac-12 Player of the Year honors and being named to the NSCAA Second Team All-American Team.
WINDY OPENING GAME SHOWED PROMISE
Crazy weather blanketed much of Southern California on Tuesday, Feb. 15. Just days after experiencing summer-like weather, the temperature plunged, leading to lightning strikes at the beaches and hail blanketing the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
At the same time, the Coachella Valley was under a High Wind Warning from the National Weather Service, with blustery gusts reported up to 65 miles per hour and temperatures plunging.
Through it all – LAFC and DC United continued in their preseason match, with DC pulling out a 2-0 victory with goals in the 9th minute on a penalty kick and the 77th minute.
“It was certainly difficult conditions,” Cherundolo said. “The high wind like that is the worst thing to play in – aside from maybe a foot of snow.”
Despite the loss and having to adapt to a difficult environment, Cherundolo was pleased with the progress of the Black & Gold and the way they continue to play their game.
“I thought the football today was good,” Cherundolo said. “We created chances and we moved the ball. We had full control, with the exception of two moments of the game, we had full control of the game. I was pleased with that.”
MAHALA CONTINUES TO IMPRESS
The 20-year-old Mahala Opoku got the start up front for LAFC on Tuesday vs. DC United, and the young Ghanian continued to impress the coaching staff with his comeback in the 2022 from major knee surgery that derailed what he was hoping was to be a breakout 2020 season before it really even started.
Mahala appeared in four MLS games for LAFC, coming on as a substitute early in the Black & Gold’s first game of the season when Carlos Vela was forced to depart due to an injury. Mahala delivered an assist in his first game, but his promising season quickly came to an end in the 35th minute of a USL match in Sacramento.
Mahala was loaned to the Las Vegas Lights, and suffered an ACL tear that ended his season.
“Mahala has recovered form his injury from last season,” Cherundolo said. “We are pushing him hard and he is playing a little bit of catch-up, but he has been training well.”
It is Mahala’s versatility and ability to dynamically attack the defense that intrigues Cherundolo and the coaching staff.
“Mahala gives us some tools in the front line and some depth that we have been sorely lacking,” Cherundolo said. "He is a great addition and he is on a great path -- we just have to continue his development.”
The Coachella Valley Invitational continues for LAFC on Saturday, Feb. 19 when they face the New York Red Bulls at 12:00 p.m. PT in Indio. The game will not be televised and is closed to the public.
