Los Angeles FC have fallen on hard times since recording shutouts in their first two matches of the season.
Fresh off three consecutive losses in all competitions, LAFC (2-2-0, 6 points) will aim to halt their slide on Saturday night when they meet Sporting Kansas City (0-3-1, 1 points) in Kansas City, Kan.
LAFC’s troubles are not for a lack of trying, however.
Star Denis Bouanga took six shots — three on target — but couldn’t score in a 1-0 setback to Austin FC last Saturday. Overall, LAFC held a 14-10 edge in shots.
“If you’re losing games because you’re getting outworked, or you’re disorganized, then it matters,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “If it’s because you’re a little fatigued and your chance creations are down, but you know the solutions will be there next week, then it’s not too concerning.
“This club has been built to win games, but we’ve lost three in a row, and that’s something we need to deal with and accept.”
Perhaps the sight of Sporting Kansas City may spur LAFC, who outscored KC 6-1 in 2024 to post a 2-0-1 record in the season series.
Goals, however, have been hard to come by this season. LAFC have just four in four MLS matches, with no player having more than one.
Sporting Kansas City secured their first point of the season after rallying from a three-goal deficit to notch a 3-3 draw with Minnesota United last Saturday.
“The guys are fighting, and that’s very good. It’s easy for a team not to fight, but we are,” Sporting Kansas City head coach Peter Vermes said.
“I don’t think in the first three games we didn’t deserve to get points, but that’s the game.”
Dejan Joveljic continues to pay dividends since being acquired from the Los Angeles Galaxy for $4 million during the offseason. The Serbian striker scored his team-best second goal of the season after finding the net to forge a tie in the 80th minute against Minnesota.
–Field Level Media
