LAFC defense stifles Sounders for 4th straight win

LOS ANGELES — For the bulk of the Major League Soccer season, Steve Cherundolo has treated the Los Angeles Football Club defensive unit as a pliable object.

Game dependent. Situation dependent. The former U.S. men’s national team fullback is unafraid to mix and match combinations in the interior and exterior of the LAFC back line throughout his first year as the club’s head coach.

Nearly two-thirds of the way through, however, he seems ready to settle on conventional soccer wisdom regarding a regular pairing in front of goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.

For the third straight match, the MLS points leaders paired Italian legend Giorgio Chiellini, who joined the roster at the start of the secondary transfer window on July 7, next to powerful Colombian Jesus Murillo.

And for the third consecutive game, LAFC (15-4-3, 48 points) did not concede an opposing goal in the run of play, limiting Seattle (9-11-2, 29 points) to zero shots on target as it pushed its winning streak to a season-best four games with a 2-1 victory on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium.

“Those two have a good understanding,” Cherundolo said. “They’re communicating. They are getting to know one another and it’s good. We’re happy with it. But we’re also happy with the back line before then. The amount of high-quality center backs we have is something that’s not very common, especially in this league. We know we can put in anybody at any time and it will look great. Both of them are doing their part. What it looks like in the future, we’ll see.”

While several of Chiellini’s former teammates at Juventus, including his longtime playing partner Leonardo Bonucci, were on hand to support the 37-year-old defender in his first start at home, the Italian logged 72 minutes, the longest stint with his new club.

“His first-half performance was better than good. It was excellent,” said Cherundolo, praising the Italian’s ability to anticipate, push the tempo forward and bring his teammates with him. “What I’m most pleased is how engaged he is. How emotional he is for the group and how happy he is for the group. It’s like he’s been here for five years. That’s really incredible and it’s a testament to his character.”

For Chiellini, it was important to perform well while his former teammates, who face Real Madrid at the Rose Bowl on Saturday night, experience the stadium as an expression of why he chose to sign with LAFC in the first place.

Chiellini’s effort nearly included a rocket of a shot from 40 yards out that forced the Juve players to jump out of their seats near the touchline close to the North End and The 3252.

“They became crazy for this atmosphere,” the former Italian national team captain said. “I was happy to share with them.”

Learning new teammates’ preferences, strengths and weaknesses over the past few weeks, Chiellini said playing with LAFC already feels familiar, and it is “important to improve but continue to win.”

LAFC’s lone moment of discontent showed there are some growing pains to be found in the center back pairing with Murillo. The visitors went ahead in the 14th minute when Murillo reached out with his right leg to block a dangerous cross from Seattle’s Christian Roldan, the El Rancho High product who had skirted past Chiellini inside the box.

The own-goal was as dangerous as the Sounders got. From that point forward LAFC dominated the CONCACAF Champions League winners, putting eight shots on target while repeatedly disrupting the visitor’s attack.

The Black & Gold leveled the match in the 36th minute when forward Mahala Opoku smashed a knuckling ball from just outside the box between a pair of defenders and past goalie Stefan Frei – the fifth goal of the season for the unassuming 21-year-old Ghanian.

Just before halftime, LAFC captain Carlos Vela found himself on the receiving end of a lofted ball into the box from Jose Cifuentes that went down as the Ecuadorian’s fifth assist of the year. Sliding to the turf near the 6-yard mark, Vela snuck the game-winner past Frei for his team-leading seventh goal. Vela also had a first-half goal wiped away when a video review showed he touched the ball with his right bicep before hitting a screwball with the outside of his left foot.

“It was fast. It was dangerous. And it was fruitful,” Cherundolo said of the team’s response after falling behind.

LAFC improved to 5-0-0 when it leads at halftime and evened its record at 4-4-3 in matches when it allows the first goal.

“The winning mentality is growing up in this team,” Chiellini noted.

Cherundolo opted once again to rely on his depth, adding Gareth Bale for the final 30 minutes along with several defensive options, including substituting Sebastien Ibeagha on for Chiellini and Ryan Hollingshead for Franco Escobar as LAFC locked down the result with another dominant second half.

Bale, who scored his first MLS goal at Kansas City last week, got several standing ovations from the lively announced crowd of 22,111. Chiellini also got loud cheers when he checked out.

“He’s constantly working toward getting match minutes and getting his fitness back,” Cherundolo said of Bale. “It’s Week 3 of the preseason for him. He’s going to get sharper, faster, better.”

With 12 matches left in the regular season, LAFC moved seven points clear of Austin FC atop the Western Conference with its longest winning streak since 2019. LAFC is also six points ahead of Philadelphia in the race for the Supporters’ Shield.

Banc Shot. #LAFCvSEA 1-1 pic.twitter.com/IY2ii9vcJk

— LAFC (@LAFC) July 30, 2022

Fútbol Champagne. #LAFCvSEA 2-1 pic.twitter.com/tNARDWRloz

— LAFC (@LAFC) July 30, 2022

“I’m not in the business of making friends. It’s my job to make sure we win games.”@RobStoneONFOX and @AlexiLalas catch up with @LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo after their win over Seattle pic.twitter.com/4OsEL1LTNW

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 30, 2022

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