Defending MLS champion Los Angeles FC look to dig out of a miserable stretch when they visit red-hot Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night in Kansas.
LAFC (7-3-5, 26 points) have been outscored 5-0 while going winless over their past three matches (0-2-1). Counting all competitions, LAFC have just one goal in their past six matches, including the two-leg CONCACAF Champions League loss to Club Leon of Mexico on June 4.
LAFC is fresh off consecutive losses to the Houston Dynamo — 4-0 on the road on June 10 and 1-0 at home on Wednesday.
“It would be a mistake to panic, which we are certainly not,” LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said after Wednesday’s loss. “… When results don’t go your way, bounces don’t go your way, calls don’t go your way, that nicks away at your confidence as well.”
Said star striker Carlos Vela: “There are two ways we can go. Go home and cry, or come back tomorrow and work harder to get it back. We have to trust in us. It’s the only way.”
It isn’t the best time for LAFC to be visiting Sporting KC (5-8-5, 20 points). After a brutal 0-7-3 start, SKC is 5-1-2 over its last eight matches. In the past four matches, Sporting is 3-0-1 and outscored the opponents 11-4.
One of those strong performances came June 10 when Sporting KC rolled to a 4-1 home win over Austin FC. Alan Pulido had two goals and one assist.
Pulido’s performance was his best since returning from a serious knee injury that cost him the entire 2022 season. He has four goals and three assists this season with three of the goals coming over the last two games.
“My best level is coming,” Pulido said. “I feel the sensation. I need to keep working the same.”
Pulido had an assist when Sporting KC and LAFC played to a 1-1 tie in Los Angeles on May 17. He expects a tough game in the rematch.
“This is a very important match,” Pulido said. “We need to win, we need to get the three points. It won’t be easy. LAFC is a good team, they’re the last champions of the MLS.”
LAFC is 5-4-1 in 10 matches against Sporting KC, including 3-0-1 in the past four.
–Field Level Media
