LAFC have once again proven their dominance as they march towards yet another final, and it comes as no surprise to anyone.
“It’s a big opportunity for us and there’s a lot of hunger still in our group,” head coach Steve Cherundolo emphasized to the press after the victory. “We have also added in some new blood and that impacted how we looked tonight. You know, our bench is fantastic, and can be a very deciding factor moving down the stretch of the season.”
Among the substitutes who made a significant impact was none other than France’s all-time leading scorer Olivier Giroud, who came on at halftime and played a full 45 minutes. This marked the most playing time for the former AC Milan forward since he made the move to LAFC earlier in the summer as a Designated Player. When asked if he had any words of wisdom for Giroud on scoring his first goal for Los Angeles, Cherundolo simply chuckled.
The depth of talent at LAFC’s disposal is truly astounding. The caliber of players they can bring off the bench, such as Giroud, Cristian Olivera, Omar Campos, Lewis O’Brien, and Eddie Segura, is a testament to the team’s strength. Timothy Tillman even sat on the bench as an unused substitute. Even the opposing coach, Chris Armas of Colorado, couldn’t help but express his admiration for the formidable squad that LAFC has assembled.
“That’s a good team, man. Come on. LAFC, look what they’re bringing off the bench,” Armas commented in awe. “John Thorrington and his crew have built a powerhouse. I think we all in this room recognize that, anyone listening to his press conference, if they’re watching, that’s a top team. Most teams struggle against them. Most teams have hard times.”
LAFC’s journey to the final is a testament to their strength and depth, and their opponents will undoubtedly have their work cut out for them.