Defending has been the focus for the Los Angeles Football Club during the long pause between MLS Cup playoff games.
After LAFC swept a first-round series against Austin FC on Nov. 2, head coach Steve Cherundolo would have loved to work with the full group to implement a tactical plan leading into the conference semifinal at Vancouver on Nov. 22.
But because most of the attackers were called up to their respective national teams, the extended FIFA break has felt a bit like treading water.
“This is the only time of the year where you have a full block, maybe a block and a half to implement a tactical plan,” the 46-year-old American coach said. “That gets robbed because of the international window. So, frustrating, but also it’s nice to take the pace out a little bit.”
Without Son Heung-min, Denis Bouanga, Nathan Ordaz, David Martínez, Andrew Moran, Mathieu Choinière and Timothy Tillman – combined they have two-thirds of the club’s 65 regular-season goals – it is “really unfortunate” that the team could not work on its overall tactical approach for the Whitecaps, Cherundolo said.
The fact that most of the defensive-minded players remained behind in L.A., however, gave the lifelong defender the chance to turn an inconveniently timed break into a defensive clinic.
Individually and in small groups, one of the stingiest units in MLS – LAFC is tied with Supporters’ Shield winners Philadelphia for the fewest shots allowed (128) – has trained up their habits, tendencies, behaviors and qualities before facing a foe with the third-most goals in the league and the best goal differential.
End of an era
International breaks in the middle of the MLS Cup playoffs will officially be a thing of the past starting in 2027.
Following a vote by the MLS Board of Governors, the league announced on Friday that it would move the competitive calendar in line with the internationally favored summer-to-spring season format.
“Aligning with the world’s top leagues enhances our global relevance and opens new avenues for growth – from stronger transfer windows and improved roster flexibility to uninterrupted playoffs and a more consistent experience for fans and partners,” LAFC co-president Larry Freedman said in a statement. “From a business standpoint, this alignment positions MLS and LAFC to capitalize on the league’s growing international momentum.”
Packed to the rafters
The Whitecaps announced Friday that BC Place, with a capacity of 54,500, is sold out for the Nov. 22 showdown between the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in the West.
Vancouver set a club record for attendance in its MLS era (53,837) when Inter Miami visited British Columbia for a CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal contest in April.
As for those attackers …
In Rabat, Morocco, Bouanga played 120 minutes to keep Gabon alive for a World Cup berth for the first time since 1990, ultimately falling short 4-1 in extra time Thursday to Nigeria.
As opposed to 2024 when Bouanga had just a couple days to return to the States before LAFC met Seattle in the conference semis, the only MLS player with three straight years of 20 or more goals should reunite with his teammates and get a full week to prepare for Vancouver.
The other half of LAFC’s dynamic attacking duo banged in a beautiful free kick that was as brilliant if not better than his MLS goal of the year. Son’s viral finish came as he played 76 minutes in a 2-0 victory over Bolivia in Daejong, South Korea. He is expected to appear off the bench in another friendly against Ghana in Seoul on Nov. 18.
Ordaz played the second half of a critical World Cup qualifier for El Salvador at Suriname, but the young forward’s side lost 4-0 and was eliminated from participating in next year’s tournament set for Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. They still play Tuesday in Panama.
Martínez may have benefited the most from LAFC evading a Game 3 against Austin. The Venezuelan was released a few days early by the Black & Gold to visit his family, who have been unable to join the talented forward in the states despite LAFC’s best efforts to make that happen.
“Sometimes our hands are tied politically,” Cherundolo said, “so there’s not a lot we can do there.”
Friday in a friendly against Australia at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, Martínez entered in the 78th minute. He can catch up with Choinière when Venezuela faces Canada in Ft. Lauderdale on Tuesday. Choinière did not play during a scoreless friendly versus Ecuador in Toronto on Thursday.
Ireland’s Andrew Moran saw a massive World Cup qualifier win against Portugal from the bench. If the Irish beat Hungary on Sunday, they are assured a spot in the 48-team field.
Tillman, a late addition to the U.S. roster, was available for selection in a friendly versus Paraguay on Saturday. The U.S. plays Uruguay in Tampa on Tuesday.