Cloudless blue skies and 60-degree temperatures painted the scene at the LAFC Performance Center on Monday as LAFC ended its first full week of preseason training with a closed-door friendly against Cavalry FC of the Canadian Premier League.
The 90-minute scrimmage against the Calgary-based club (the reigning CPL champions and participants in the upcoming Concacaf Champions Cup, like their hosts) offered LAFC’s players a chance to stretch their legs, compete against someone besides each other, and get the feel of a new roster altered by offseason comings and goings.
“Preseason is always a good test,” said defender Ryan Hollingshead. “First of all, you’ve just got to get your body back, get your fitness back, get your cardio back. Get into a good rhythm. That's the most important thing.”
LAFC fielded a different 11-man lineup in each half. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, coming off an All Star season in 2024, watched from the sidelines, allowing Thomas Hasal and David Ochoa to play the first and second halves, respectively.
The back line in front of Hasal was a familiar one with veterans Hollingshead and Sergi Palencia at fullback, and centerbacks Aaron Long and Eddie Segura between them.
Long, a southern California native, recently re-signed with LAFC through the 2027 season following a 2024 campaign that was one of his finest as a pro. His return, and the presence of Segura (who has been with LAFC since 2018 and had his option picked up for 2025) will soften the blow of Jesús Murillo’s exit. Murillo, the Colombian centerback who made 107 regular-season appearances for LAFC, recently signed with FC Juarez of Liga MX after an impactful career in black and gold that saw him play a vital role in all four of LAFC’s major trophies as well as its runs to the Concacaf final in 2020 and 2023.
The depth behind Hollingshead and Palencia at outside back will be tested by Omar Campos’ offseason transfer to Cruz Azul of Liga MX, in his hometown of Mexico City – a move that was seen as a positive development for all three parties, especially the 22-year-old Campos, a rising star with Mexico’s National Team who last year scored one of the most important goals in LAFC history: the matchwinner against Kansas City in the U.S. Open Cup Final.
Monday’s starters in midfield included Timothy Tillman, who led all LAFC midfielders in minutes played in 2024. Missing from the midfield, of course, was 2024 captain Ilie Sánchez, who joined Austin FC three weeks ago in free agency. One of the most popular players in LAFC history, Ilie’s three seasons in black and gold were bookended by his penalty kick in the 2022 MLS Cup Final, which sealed the club’s first league title, and his last-minute strike against Vancouver last October, which put LAFC in position to finish Best in the West for the second time in his three seasons in LA.
Also gone from LAFC’s midfield picture is Eduard Atuesta, an LAFC Original and former MLS Best XI honoree whose loan period from Palmeiras (Brazil) came to an end over the winter.
LAFC’s starting front line on Monday consisted of perennial Golden Boot and MVP candidate Denis Bouanga at left winger, 2024 MLS 22 Under 22 honoree David Martínez on the right, and Olivier Giroud at center forward. After joining LAFC three months into its 2024 season, Giroud ramped up his minutes throughout the year—contributing the opening goal in LAFC’s Open Cup Final victory in September. LAFC followers everywhere are looking forward to what the World Cup winner can do with a full preseason under his belt.
It was Bouanga who looked most dangerous against the Canadians, however, as the 2024 MLS Best XI honoree and two-time 20-goal man progressed the ball repeatedly down the left flank before sending a vintage curler just over the crossbar late in the scoreless first half.
“Personally the feeling is good,” Bouanga said after the match. “It’s a good opportunity for the younger and the older [players]. It’s good to recognize the new players too. For the first game it’s good, because we need to play … Concacaf is very soon, and we need to be ready for the first game in Colorado [on Feb. 18].”
Cavalry provided a stiff test the entire match—perhaps as a show of gratitude for being spared Monday’s sub-freezing temperatures in Western Canada. The visitors played the second half against LAFC goalkeeper David Ochoa and a three-man back line of Marlon (the Brazilian centerback who re-signed with LAFC on Christmas Eve), Maxime Chanot (one the club’s most impactful acquisitions in 2024), and Josh Santiago, a product of the LAFC Academy, who played for LAFC2 in MLS NEXT Pro last season.
DeCarlo Guerra, an MLS NEXT All Star in 2024, manned the defensive midfield, with 16-year-old Jude Terry (who signed a Homegrown contract with LAFC’s senior team last month) and Matt Evans (three goals for LAFC2 last year), and 2023 draft pick Kenny Nielsen rounding out the four-man midfield.
LAFC2’s leading scorer in 2024, Adrian Wibowo (10 goals), played the second half at right winger, alongside recently acquired striker Jeremy Ebobisse (60 career MLS regular-season goals) and another academy product Nathan Ordaz, who played significant minutes and made valuable contributions to LAFC’s first team in ’24 and will look to raise his level again in ’25.
“Today's objectives were purely defensive, LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “That was our message all week, our principles of play in that phase of the game, and so we kept it quite simple for the players. From what I can tell before reviewing the video, I think the objectives were achieved.”
Up next, LAFC will face the San Jose Earthquakes in another closed-door scrimmage on Saturday, Jan. 25.
In this early phase of the preseason, Cherundolo said, “Our first two goals are to get some fitness and to stay healthy. Beyond that, if you can solidify your principles of play, your style of play, certain formations, and maybe along with that jelling as a group, some team building and getting used to your teammates, enjoying the time together. As long as we're laughing, we're sweating, and learning every day, I think we're on the right path.”
“We're not super concerned about the first couple of preseason games,” said Hollingshead. “It's more about just getting those minutes back, and then as we get towards the end of preseason, it'll be about putting the right thoughts together with the right fitness and making something happen so that by the time Concacaf and Colorado comes up—it's going to come faster than we think—we can be ready for that.”
LAFC begins its 2025 season on the road against the Colorado Rapids in Concacaf Champions Cup action on Feb. 18. The Black & Gold opens MLS regular-season play on Feb. 22 against Minnesota United at BMO Stadium. Season ticket information. Single-game ticket info.
