Steve Cherundolo says he is not worried about the losing series of Los Angeles FC, because he expects that they will bounce back against Sporting Kansas City in MLS on Saturday.
Lafc won their first two games of the season-1-0 v New York City FC in MLS and 3-0 V Columbus Crew in the Concacaf Champions Cup but have since lost their last three in all competitions.
Although they continued with a total victory over the crew, they followed it with a 1-0 defeat against Austin FC, leaving them in eighth in the Western Conference after four games.
Despite that record, Cherundolo was convinced that there were more positive signs of Lafc.
“If you lose games because you get rid of it, or you are unorganized, then it is important,” said Cherundolo.
“If it is because you are a bit tired and your chances are down, but you know that the solutions will be there next week, then it is not that worrying.
“This club was built to win games, but we have lost three in a row and that is something we are dealing with and accept.”
In the meantime, Sporting KC received their first point of the season in MLS last weekend when they flew back from three goals to draw 3-3 with Minnesota United.
They remain 13th in the table, level at points with the two teams among them, after they have lost their first three.
Head coach Peter Vermes was happy with the fight that his team showed last week and hopes that they can use that result as a springboard in the future.
“The boys fight and that's very good. It's easy for a team not to fight, but we are,” said Vermes.
“I don't think we didn't deserve points in the first three games, but that's the game.
“Sometimes goals will happen, and if they do that, the most important thing is the reaction, and ours is good, but if you are not rewarded, confidence will not build in certain aspects. The comeback [against Minnesota] Should that confidence. “
Players to watch
Sporting Kansas City – Dejan Joveljic
Dejan Joveljic has four goals in 10 performances in the regular season against Lafc, all as a LA Galaxy player between 2021-2024.
He scored Sporting's Late Equalizer against Minnesota, his eighth goal in his last eight MLS Starts (including play -offs). He has also recorded a target contribution in each of his last seven ml of home performances that goes back to last season (nine goals, two assists).
Comeback completed.
The equal goal of Dejan Joveljić is the energy moment of MatchDay. pic.twitter.com/3qetxyvcjv
– Major League Soccer (@MLS) 17 March 2025
Los Angeles FC – Aaron Long
Aaron Long leads MLS when passing accuracy (95.8%) and is in sixth place in the success of the air duel (84.6%).
Against Austin last weekend, he registered 96.1% by making accuracy by making accuracy, completed 103 of his 117 passes (all team hogging) and also made five approvals.
Match forecast: Los Angeles FC Win
Los Angeles FC is unbeaten in their last eight meetings with Sporting Kansas City in all competitions (W6 D2), including winning the US Open Cup final with 3-1 in extra time last year. Lafc has won their last three road races against Sporting dating from 2022.
For the first time since August-September 2023, Lafc has lost three consecutive games in all competitions. They have lost four consecutive games in all competitions in all competitions in club history, and this in August 2021, a run with a loss for Sporting KC.
The hosts, meanwhile, broke their club record 10 matches in all matches with a 3-3 draw against Minnesota United on Saturday after a backlog of 3-0. It was the first time that Sporting avoided the defeat after a backlog with at least three goals in an MLS competition (formerly W0 D0 L58 including play -offs).
Opta wins probability
Sporting Kansas City – 22.7%
Drawing – 22.3%
Los Angeles FC – 55.1%
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