Los Angeles Football Club are on fire after winning three games in a row in all competitions. Unfortunately, the 2022 MLS Cup Champions had to miss their first MLS game of 2023 against rivals LA Galaxy due to heavy rain here in California.
After waiting a week, LAFC started the MLS with a win against Portland Timbers 3-2. Goals from Giorgio Chiellini, Carlos Vela, and Kwadwo Opoku goals were enough to win the game. Even though Portland scored two goals in the second half, LAFC played well.
Five days later, LAFC traveled to Costa Rica and visited Liga Deportiva Alajuelense in the CONCACAF Champions League Round 16. The Black and Gold won comfortably with the score of 3-0 thanks to Denis Bouanga, who scored a hat-trick.
LAFC came back to Los Angeles with confidence, beating the New England Revolution 4-0 on Sunday. Los Angeles is more likely to face Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the quarter-finals, who beat Honduran club Real Espana 5-0.
Meanwhile, Liga Deportiva Alajuelense is currently in second place with 26 points, one point behind leaders Deportivo Saprissa with 27 points. Three days after the LAFC loss, Alajuelense lost against Santos de Guapiles at home 2-0 in the Costa Rican Primera División.
LAFC have no issue going to the next round since they are at home. While Alajuelense must put in the best performance to win, which seems unlikely. Los Angeles FC manager Steve Cherundolo may rest the main players and rotate the team for a big game versus Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday.
Cherundolo may rest players Carlos Vela, Denis Bouanga, and Chiellini and put players like Aaron Long in the starting line-up. Teams like LAFC, now that they are participating in three different competitions, it is important to have squad depth and a bit of rotation, and LAFC has it. But adding a striker or forward would be icing on the cake.
