Sometimes, the best remedy for a struggling offense and club struggling to string together results, is stepping onto the pitch against a team doing even worse than you are. Such was the case this past weekend for LAFC as they looked to snap their three-match losing streak against the even more inept, Sporting KC. The home side came into the match having lost 10 of their last 11 matches, extending all the way back into last season, and that didn’t change Saturday, despite Los Angeles still not performing at the level we know they can. Still, the black & gold did enough to come away with the 0-2 win, and more importantly, snap the losing streak at three, not letting that dark cloud linger over them too long.
Road Win. 3 Points. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/47EzTZuhfX
— LAFC (@LAFC) March 23, 2025
Los Angeles came into this one not just trying to shake-off the stench of losses that had started to permeate around them, but they also came in shorthanded as the struggling attack was without its most creative player, Denis Bouanga, who was away representing his Nation, Gabon, during International break. We talked in our preview about the team needing to see some of the exciting youngsters step up and it didn’t take long for them to do so either. Knowing the importance of an early goal, LAFC wasted no time in putting the pressure on SKC. In just the 18th minute of the match, Sporting’s sloppy play led to a giveaway as they were building up from their own box, with the ball falling to Mark Delgado, who took a few dribbles before laying it off to David Martinez. The young phenom took a few dribbles toward goal, found some space and even with a bit of an angle, slammed home his effort for the early lead.
🗣️ GOOOOOOL de la Joyaaa
David Martínez puts us in front with a strike 🚀 https://t.co/BCgg72znj3 pic.twitter.com/JzgysuHYeG
— LAFC (@LAFC) March 23, 2025
For a brief moment it felt like maybe we were about to see the club put on one of its vintage performances with bundles of goals and a convincing demolition of one of the league’s worst sides. However, that was not the case. LAFC finished the first half with the solitary goal, only put together five shots with two hitting their target, and one of those finding the back of the net. What LAFC were this time around that they haven’t been most of the season, was clinical. The few really good chances at goal they did have this match, they made the absolute most of, despite being shorthanded.
“This was the first time, during the season, that we had a proper week of training” said LAFC Head Coach Steve Cherundolo when speaking to media after the win. “We were able to work on a lot of details in our game that we weren’t quite happy with over the last couple of weeks. All of those details we worked on, I think we showcased in the first half.” We talked in our preview of this match the importance of having that time to recover and train, while not having to worry about Champions Cup at the midweek.
The second half saw even less shots on goal for LAFC who only put on three shots in the second half as they were focused more on sealing up their win defensively, but again it isn’t the number so much as it is being clinical and despite just three shots, the team had two hit the target, and yet another, find the back of the net. In the 54th minute, a free kick from just outside the box gave LAFC the chance to double their lead and all but secure the win on the road. An absolute beauty of a kick from new signing Ünder went right where it needed to, with defender Ryan Hollingshead getting his, head, on the ball from point blank range but the effort was saved. However, the save only deflected the ball away, landing to the other defender, Aaron Long, who poked it in for the goal, doubling the lead late and eventually, giving them the 0-2 win on the road.
Aaron Long buries the rebound and doubles our lead 💥#SKCvLAFC 0-2 https://t.co/Ei83XKpOE4 pic.twitter.com/aXJ1SXoCLY
— LAFC (@LAFC) March 23, 2025
“We had some really good moments with the ball, especially in the first half, second half I think we needed to relieve ourselves from some of that pressure” said LAFC defender Aaron Long after the match. “They [SKC] had too much of the ball and we couldn’t get out as much as we would like, but that being said it was a tough performance. To get two goals away and the shutout is always good, we’re happy.” The road warrior mentality keeps going for LAFC, though a bit more close to home, as they pay a visit to MLS newcomers, San Diego FC. We already know the budding rivalry between LA and San Diego in the NWSL, could this be the start of the MLS version of SoCal strife?
Thoughts on the road win? Leave a comment below!