With their hectic runs in Leagues Cup competition complete, Los Angeles FC will play host to San Diego FC as the clubs return to MLS action Saturday.
LAFC won all three of their Leagues Cup matches, but two were finished off in a penalty shootout and that was insufficient to advance to the quarterfinals.
After scoring just one goal in each of the past four matches, including the final MLS match before Leagues Cup play, LAFC (10-5-4, 34 points) are in search of the kind of offense they showed immediately after the World Cup break.
LAFC totaled 10 goals in their three matches in July and are 3-0-1 in MLS play since the resumption of the schedule. A return to a regular starting lineup will help after the club varied its look over the fast-paced Leagues Cup schedule.
Wednesday’s victory in penalty kicks over Queretaro of Mexico, following a 1-1 draw, included five changes to the starting lineup. Only five players started all three Leagues Cup matches — a group that included stars Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-Min.
LAFC continue to be without Igor Jesus and Sergi Palencia because of leg injuries but the club did sign German forward Armindo Sieb from Bayern Munich on Thursday. His arrival awaits the approval of his international transfer certificate and his visa.
“It’s been hard to push guys in all competitions and now we have to be ready to play San Diego on Saturday,” LAFC head coach Marc Dos Santos said. “That is the only part that is concerning for me.”
San Diego (5-7-6, 21 points) won its final two Leagues Cup matches, including a 3-2 victory over Puebla on Wednesday at home. Recent roster additions David Vazquez and Dagur Thorhallsson scored four minutes apart late in the match to seal the victory.
After winning the Western Conference in their debut season a year ago, San Diego FC are in 13th place and were 1-1-1 in the resumption of MLS play after the World Cup break and before Leagues Cup play.
“We went through some rough patches, but we’re slowly picking it up,” Vazquez said, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. “When I first got here (in July), everybody was excited, but I think we got a little too comfortable. But we’re responding now to get back on the right track.”
Saturday’s match is the first of two on the road for San Diego FC before they play four of the following five at home.
–Field Level Media
