It’s match day once again for LAFC, as they continue their last home stand before the summer break. July continues to be a big month for the black & gold who took center stage on the 4th, taking on rivals LA Galaxy in a win, and now, just nine days later, face off against the team that beat them in the MLS Cup Final last season. Columbus Crew make their return to Los Angeles to take on LAFC for the first time since 2018! That’s right, in the four previous matches the Crew has been at home for three.
24 Hours. ⏳
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🎧 @ESPNLosAngeles#LAFC | @trulyseltzer— LAFC (@LAFC) July 13, 2024
When it mattered most
As mentioned previous, this will be the fifth meeting between these two sides, with LAFC holding the advantage with three wins to one. However, that lone win is worth far more than three as it was last year’s 2-1 win at home to lift the 2023 MLS Cup. For the last couple of years Columbus has been a consistent competitor in the Eastern Conference, and this season is no different. The Crew come into Los Angeles sitting in third place in the East, with a 5-2-3 record on the road. They have been winners in four of their last five, with the one loss being to a Messi-less Inter Miami. Juan Hernandez will be the one to keep tabs on if you’re LAFC. He leads the team in just about all categories, while tied for the lead in assists. They go, as he goes. Fans will also see a familiar face with Columbus, Diego Rossi, the one-time LAFC forward, returns to BMO with the defending champions.
Revenge not biggest motivation
Winning this match for LAFC wont undo the result of last year’s final. This isn’t college football where they will get to hoist the MLS Cup and keep it in Los Angeles with a win tonight. That is to say, this match is less about revenge for the black & gold and more about doing what they need to do to keep this current form going strong. “We don’t really talk about revenge against teams we lost to” said LAFC Head Coach Steve Cherundolo when speaking to media ahead of tonight. “The only time you really talk about what happened last time is really against your cross-town rivals. Other than that, this is an MLS match, three points on the line against a very good team, a very well coached team, a team that is true to their concept. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but it’s a different circumstance than last year.”
Steve isn’t wrong either. While there will obviously be a sense of wanting to return the favor, but unless these two sides end up in this year’s final with the MLS Cup on the line – a very real possibility – there won’t be that sense of true revenge tonight. Not against a team you’ve only played five times after tonight, since your arrival in 2018. That said, what is motivating the squad is continuing their form and staying unbeaten at home as they have done all season so far. The team are also winners of four of their last five, though the one non-win for them was 1-1 draw and not a loss. That hasn’t happened to LAFC for 10 MLS matches now, 13 in all competitions.
How to Watch
The match is set to kickoff at 7:30pm PT from BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Ca. The broadcast can be seen, for free once again, on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Those looking for the radio broadcast can find it on 710 ESPN LA, as well as the ESPN LA App for English and 980 AM La Mera Mera for Spanish.
Thoughts on the match tonight? Leave a comment below!