READY FOR GAME ONE AND BEYOND
LAFC opens their fifth season in MLS on Saturday, Feb. 26 at Banc of California Stadium vs. the Rapids at 12:30 p.m. PT (Univision/TUDN/710 AM/980 AM). The Black & Gold are undefeated in season openers in their history so far, with a sparkling 4-0-0 record dating back to their 1-0 upset of the Seattle Sounders on the road in 2018.
Just two players who were on the roster for that inaugural match remain on the team – Carlos Vela and Latif Blessing – and while there are a host of new players, there is also a brand new head coach in Steve Cherundolo who is ready to make his MLS debut on the sidelines.
“Everybody is ready to go,” Cherundolo said. “Before any game, I think every athlete experiences a little bit of nervousness, which I feel as well. I probably feel it more so now as a coach than as a player because I can’t really do much on the field to directly impact the result. But this team has won my trust in the preseason, so I fully stand behind them and I know they will do the things we ask them to do to give us a great chance to win this game.”
Cherundolo is one of the most accomplished players in U.S. Soccer history, appearing on the roster of three World Cup teams and enjoying a 20+ year career playing and coaching in the German Bundesliga. After serving as the head coach of the USL’s Las Vegas Lights in 2021, Cherundolo is preparing for his first season opener as the man in charge of a team in the top division.
“I think we are in a good spot,” Cherundolo said of his team as they returned from a successful visit to Indio, CA last week for training, team bonding and two preseason matches. “I think we are where we should be having made so many changes in the off-season on the field. This is game one, so this is just the beginning of our long journey this season.”
LAFC has added several new faces who could appear in the starting lineup or see playing time vs. Colorado on Saturday, such as midfielders Ilie Sánchez and Kellyn Acosta, defender Franco Escobar, goalkeeper Max Crépeau, and defenders Ryan Hollingshead and Doneil Henry. They are all MLS veterans who are expected to provide the Black & Gold a lift and elevate them back into the playoffs and hopefully, to a championship.
“Nobody has a crystal ball,” Cherundolo said. “Nobody knows who is going to be MLS Champion right now – there is a lot of football to play from now until then. But high expectations and pressure have been a part of my life for the past 22 years.”
FAMILIAR FACES IN COLORADO
The last time LAFC saw the Rapids, Colorado was sprinting away from them – defeating the Black & Gold 5-2 on the final day of the 2021 season. The loss was one of the worst in LAFC history, and secured the top spot in the Western Conference for Colorado, while ensuring LAFC would not qualify for the playoffs for the first time in its history.
Familiar LAFC faces Mark Anthony Kaye, who joined Colorado in a trade in 2021 and defender Steven Beitashour (who signed with Colorado in 2020) helped take down their former teammates, but so did midfielder Kellyn Acosta, who played 90 minutes for the Rapids and was dangerous throughout the match.
Now, after a blockbuster off-season trade, Acosta will be facing off against his former Rapids teammates while wearing Black & Gold as Kaye and Beitashour return to the Banc. For Kaye, an LAFC original who joined the team in 2018 and grew into an MLS All-Star in L.A., it will be his first time in the visiting locker room at the stadium.
“It seems weird,” Acosta said about playing against his former teammates. “But it does always seem to happen – a high-profile player gets traded and then in their first game they play their old team.”
And while it is the old cliché – Acosta insists that there is not going to be anything different about taking on Colorado.
“It is just another game,” Acosta said. “It is kind of weird being on the other side of things of course, but I’m more excited to just play at the Banc in front of the fans here and just getting the season underway.”
The Rapids come to Southern California having already played two official matches this year, as they were bounced from the Concacaf Champions League on Wednesday in penalty kicks by Guatemala’s Comunicaciones FC.
“Since they have already had two matches, they will have more of a rhythm,” Cherundolo said. “Maybe that is a small advantage in the beginning. But the disadvantage could be that they already have two matches in their legs, including a tough one just a few days ago – so there could be a physical advantage for us.”
The Rapids were one of the most dangerous in MLS on set pieces in 2021, but Cherundolo and the team are concentrating on making sure they are ready to play on Saturday.
‘I think the difference will be whether or not we can perform to our full potential,” Cherundolo said. “We are focusing on ourselves. We are fully aware of Colorado’s weapons, but we are focused on ourselves and playing our own game.”
ACOSTA’S ROLE
Acosta is known as a widely versatile player and one of the most dynamic U.S. players in the game. He has been used at numerous positions all around the field both in Dallas and Colorado, but also with the U.S. National Team, which he led in appearances in 2021.
Cherundolo has been impressed with what Acosta brings to LAFC, but has stated that he envisions Acosta in the middle of the field in some form almost every game. That is a role that the Texas native is familiar with.
“I think overall I have a similar role that I’ve had with my previous teams,” Acosta said. “I think the midfield here is huge – it is the glue of the team. We are helping in transition, helping the backline, getting the forwards in great spots and helping to defend.”
Acosta likes what he has seen of LAFC’s midfield play so far and is happy to be a part of it.
‘I think we are strong in the middle,” Acosta said. “I think we will be able to be a force in the league. I’m here to contribute whatever position that I need to play – whether it is on the outside or in the back or play as a six or in a deep role. I am ready to play where I am put in and I’m here to bring my qualities and help the team do more.”
RYAN HOLLINGSHEAD MAKES A DONUT IN ONE
LAFC defender Ryan Hollingshead arrived in Los Angeles Feb. 11 in a trade with FC Dallas. The native of Northern California (Granite Bay) and former UCLA star is excited to be back on the West Coast – and started his Thursday morning visiting one of the city’s most iconic food spots – Randy’s Donuts in Inglewood as part of the LAFC Is Back Week festivities.
Randy’s donuts are long-time supporters of LAFC and the bakers of the special “Black & Gold” donut – and their famous giant donut on the roof of their Inglewood store provided the perfect opportunity for Hollingshead to re-introduce himself to L.A.
Former LAFC midfielder Lee Nguyen was the first to kick a ball through the giant donut in 2018, but after a few warm-up tries – Hollingshead became the second player to rocket the ball through the big hole.
Nguyen scored his first LAFC goal the day after burying the kick…so expectations are high for Hollingshead’s debut.
