LAFC cruises past Rapids, into Leagues Cup final

A month’s long quest for its first trophy of 2024 has one more match to go for LAFC. Hosting the Colorado Rapids in the semifinals of Leagues Cup, LAFC was all business, as they took control of the match inside the last five minutes of the first half, then gradually put the bow on top, and LAFC is in its first final of Leagues Cup with a 4-0 win at BMO Stadium.

It is still a lot of work, getting to a final is very difficult, whether the schedule is congested or not,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “We are proud of what we achieved, qualifying for the Champions Cup already. Raising the trophy is the icing on the cake.”

LAFC saw four different players, Mateusz Bogusz, Kei Kamara, Denis Bouanga and Lewis O’Brien, find the back net on Wednesday night, as the win automatically qualified LAFC for next year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup tournament. Only one team stands between LAFC and its first trophy since winning the 2022 MLS Cup, and that is the very team that denied them the MLS Cup last season, the Columbus Crew. It will truly be a rematch of last December’s MLS Cup final, as the Leagues Cup final will also be played at Lower.com Field in the capital of Ohio.

“It’s a final, it’s going to be the last game of the cup, so we are going to be ready,” Bouanga said. “It’s not going to be like last year’s game, there’s a feeling of revenge and we’re going to be eager to win that game.” 

After 41 scoreless minutes, Bogusz finally achieved breakthrough for LAFC in the 42nd minute. Jesus David Murillo forced a turnover near the halfway line and LAFC methodically brought the ball downfield. Murillo played a ball to Bogusz, who then unleashed a right-footed shot just outside the penalty area that got past keeper Zack Steffen at the far post to give LAFC the lead.

LAFC then got an all-important second goal just before the end of the first half. LAFC again won possession at midfield, this time by Kamara, who then passed to Bouanga, igniting another LAFC break. Bouanga played a ball for Ryan Hollingshead, who let it go into the penalty area, Hollingshead played a short cross towards the penalty spot, Bogusz was the closest LAFC player, but he instead chose to let Kamara swoop in and fire a point-blank shot past Steffen into the back net for a goal that gave LAFC a two-goal lead at a crucial point in the match.

LAFC wrapped up the win in the second half. Bouanga tripled the LAFC advantage in the 59th minute, after successfully defending a corner kick, Hollingshead touched a ball to Bouanga, who then dribbled all the way from Colorado’s side of the field into the penalty area, Bouanga then fired the left-footed shot past Steffen far post. O’Brien, one of LAFC’s newest editions to the squad, capped off the scoring in the 75th minute, as Cristian Olivera sprung Omar Campos down the left side, Campos then sent a left-footed cross into the penalty area, the Rapids’ Jasper Loffelsend cut off the cross with a header, but the ball fell to the feet of an unmarked O’Brien, who was just outside the penalty area, O’Brien took a quick touch and fired a left-footed shot past Steffen.