LAFC’ roster depth on display in win over New England

It has been a busy week for LAFC.

Two days ago, LAFC the six-hour flight to Costa Rica for the first leg of its CONCACAF Champions League matchup against LD Alajualense, and made the trip worthwhile, getting a 3-0 result, and with the second leg two days away, head coach Steve Cherundolo had to do sone lineup juggling, taking out regulars such as Carlos Vela, Giorgio Chiellini and Ryan Hollingshead for Sunday night’s matchup against the New England Revolution.

One player though that will be tough to take out of LAFC’s starting 11 under any circumstance is Denis Bouanga. The Designated Player forward followed his hat trick against Alajualense with another masterpiece, scoring LAFC’s two goals and assisting on a third, and LAFC had a rather easy time with the Revolution, dismantling them 4-0 at BMO Stadium.

“So at LAFC we have big players and young players, and the group is really omnigenous, and since I arrived in August, I really have felt part of the group and I think that’s the strongness of the LAFC, it’s the mix and like everyone really wants to accomplish our goal,” Bouanga said of the team’s depth and makeup.

since I arrived in August, I really have felt part of the group and I think that’s the strongness of the LAFC, it’s the mix and like everyone really wants to accomplish our goal.”
LAFC was gifted its first chance in the 3th minute. Timothy Tillman, already inside the penalty area with the ball attempted to sidestep Gustavo Bou, and Bou ended up tripping Tillman, leaving a rather easy decision for referee Allen Chapman to award LAFC the penalty, which Bouanga converted a minute later, sending the shot straight to the back of the net as keeper Djordje Petrovic guessed wrong, to give LAFC the lead.

LAFC then blew the match wide open in the second half. LAFC doubled its advantage in the 68th minute, as Jose Cifuentes sent a long ball over the New England defense, Bouanga fought off DeJuan Jones and chased the ball into the penalty area, took a quick touch and slotted the shot past Petrovic far post. The lead tripled in the 83rd minute, and it came off the foot of a player helping to balance out the roster for this week, as Timothy Tillman took advantage of poor touch from former LAFC player Latiff Blessing to steal a ball, Tillman then took a shot just inside the penalty area and fired a shot that beat Petrovic near post to basically seal the three points. LAFC though wasn’t done yet, as they put a bow on the match in stoppage time courtesy of another first-time goal scorer, as Cifuentes sprung Bouanga down the left side, Bouanga crossed into the six-yard box to Biuk, who fired a shot on goal that was caught by Petrovic, but he caught it inside the goal line, and not even video review was needed to confirm the goal.

“The players implemented our match plan extremely well,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said “I think with the exception of the first 15 minutes. Other than that, you know, I think New England wasn’t dangerous at all, complement to our, our backline and our midfield work and obviously our attackers as well.”

Before the match, LAFC took the time to honor a former teammate and beloved player amongst the fanbase. Latiff Blessing, who had been with the club since its inception in 2018 and established himself as a key player in LAFC’s early success, including last year’s championship season, before being dealt to New England during the offseason, was honored in a pre-game ceremony in which a video tribute was shown and he also received his championship ring. Blessing was greeted warmly by the crowd.