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LAFC is trying a new approach this season.
A franchise known for scoring goals in bunches and playing attractive and entertaining soccer has embraced another way to obtain results so far in 2025; defense and grinding out games, while still trying to maintain its lethal attack. Saturday night, the balance was more on the defensive side, as they spent most of the 90 minutes on Saturday night neutralizing the attack of New York City FC, then waited for the opportune time to strike, which Ryan Hollingshead provided late in the second half, and his lone goal combined with the defensive effort was enough to lift LAFC to the 1-0 win over New York City.
“Understanding that controlling matches is very important, but you can control matches with and without the ball,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “Our players here at LAFC need to understand how to do that in all phases of the game. We don’t concede many goals in transition, we score a lot in transition, we’ve scored in the run of play and we don’t concede in the run of play, which means to me my players understand how to act in each phase of the game, that’s very important in this game.”
The moment came for LAFC in the 86th minute. Olivier Giroud played a ball out left to Denis Bouanga, who took a couple of touches forward, then crossed into the penalty area. Giroud and David Martinez both crashed towards goal, though neither could get to the ball, Birk Risa cleared the ball out of the six-yard box, but it remained inside the 18, and Hollingshead swooped in from the right side and fired a right-footed shot into the back net to put LAFC in the lead for good.
“In these moments when I’m attacking though, I can get on the right side of my winger and then as soon as the play develops, I’m already a step ahead of him to get into the box,” Hollingshead said. “Picking and choosing the right moments to get into the area and find my chances is, I think, it’s where I’ve made my money.”
The first half didn’t feature much action from either side. LAFC’s only real chance at goal came in the 15th minute, when Sergi Palencia sent a dangerous right-footed cross inside the 18-yard box, and Bouanga had gotten behind the NYCFC defense, but the cross was too far ahead for Bouanga to make any contact. NYC’s only chance at goal came back in the ninth minute, as Alonso Martinez fired a left-footed shot from about 25 yards out that required attention from keeper Hugo Lloris, but it missed the far post.
‘We feel so happy with this game because this game is not easy,” LAFC defender Marlon said. “Many difficulty
first time, but finally happy with this goal from Ryan [Hollingshead]. So, important [that]we keep [working]with this mentality, this intensity and with this display.”
LAFC again shifts its focus to CONACAF Champions Cup play, as they open the first leg of its Round of 16 matchup against he Columbus Crew on Tuesday night.
