(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: The playoff picture was already looking very, very good for the Black & Gold as they traveled to play Sporting Kansas City on October 5th. The team is approaching the final matches of the regular season and with their finish, they will be in very good shape to possibly challenge the LA Galaxy for the Western Conference title, depending on certain other match outcomes in the MLS, With their win over Sporting KC, they have now clinched Home Field advantage for the first Round in the “Best of 3” format.

This match was all LAFC from the very start as they would breeze to a shut-out and a (3-0) victory. LAFC players credited with scoring a goal were: David Martínez and Cristian Olivera in the first half, and wearing the Captain’s armband, Aaron Long, concluded the scoring in the second half. Please see the match recap just below that the LAFC Communications Department has written and distributed to all media members that cover the team. Give a good read to their account, take a decent look at the photo gallery we’ve created, and finish up with a nice look at the News & Notes section as well.

After this match, the Black & Gold will play the re-scheduled road match versus the Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Sunday, Oct. 14th. After that encounter, they will return home to prepare for their final regular season MLS match against the NorCal, San José Earthquakes, on Saturday, October 19th, at the “Place To Be In L.A.”… BMO Stadium.

That should be a great night in the stadium to celebrate another highly successful regular MLS season for our Black & Gold. Soon it’ll be on to the second season with the start of the playoffs on October 25th. 

LAFC SECURES 3-0 ROAD WIN OVER SPORTING KANSAS CITY, CLINCHES HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE IN FIRST ROUND OF PLAYOFFS

LAFC won its fourth straight game in all competitions, all within a span of eleven days, by defeating Sporting Kansas City 3-0 at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night, 10/5. The Black & Gold improved to 17-8-7 in MLS play, for 58 points, with two games remaining.

The win kept LAFC in second place in the Western Conference, and clinched home-field advantage for the Black & Gold in its Round One Best-of-3 Series in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, which begin on Friday, October 25.

[PHOTO GALLERY COURTESY]: Los Angeles Football Club

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Playing its eighth match in 29 days, LAFC got the opening goal from David Martínez in the 14th minute, when the 18-year-old forward drove home a rebound after SKC goalkeeper Tim Melia had parried away a penalty kick attempt by Denis Bouanga. Cristian Olivera added to the lead in first-half stoppage time, scoring his sixth regular-season goal of 2024 by finishing a pass from Bouanga at the top of the six-yard box to give the Black & Gold a two-goal advantage going into the second half.

Defender Aaron Long, wearing the captain’s armband, put his stamp on the match in the 69th minute, curling in a right-footed shot from the top of the penalty area for his first goal in an LAFC shirt and his first MLS goal since August 2022.

Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris saved all four of Kansas City’s shots on target to register his 11th clean sheet of the season, setting a single-season club record.

[NEWS & NOTES]

*LAFC is now 17-8-7 on the season for 58 points. The 17 wins and 58 points both rank third in club history, behind the 2019 Supporters’ Shield winners (21 wins, 72 points) and the 2022 Shield and MLS Cup winners (21 wins, 67 points).

*This win was LAFC’s seventh road win of the year in MLS play. This is the fourth time in seven years that LAFC has won seven or more league games away from home. Only the 2019 and 2022 teams won more (eight each).

*The 10/5 win came in Steve Cherundolo’s 100th MLS regular-season match as LAFC’s head coach. The 177 points LAFC has earned under Cherundolo in his first 100 games ranks third all-time in MLS history. LAFC’s 52 wins in Cherundolo’s first 100 games are the second-best total in league history.

*Bouanga’s assist to Olivera was his 11th of the MLS regular season, adding to Bouanga’s single-season career high. Prior to last season, when Bouanga recorded eight assists for LAFC, he had never collected more than six assists in seven seasons in France’s top divisions (Ligue 1 and Ligue 2).

*Bouanga’s saved penalty was the first PK he has missed since joining LAFC in 2022. He had been a perfect 10-for-10 on penalties in MLS play prior to Saturday night, and had not missed a penalty as a professional since a Nov. 2020 match in France’s Ligue 1.

*LAFC is now 8-4-2 vs. SKC all-time. LAFC has conceded only one goal to SKC this season over three matches and 300 total minutes, in all competitions. The clubs played to a 0-0 draw in March in regular-season play; and LAFC defeated SKC 3-1 in the U.S. Open Cup Final on Sept. 25, after 30 minutes of extra time.

*Bouanga remains in a two-way tie for second place on the 2024 MLS goal-scoring chart with 19 goals, four behind league leader Christian Benteke of D.C. United (23 goals). Columbus’ Cucho Hernández also has 19 goals.

*Hugo Lloris recorded his 11th clean sheet in 31 regular-season games in 2024. Lloris’ 11 clean sheets are an LAFC single-season record, and the second-most for an LAFC goalkeeper, all time (Tyler Miller, 19).