LAFC oust Whitecaps to reach Western Conference Semifinal: “Tactically our coaches were brilliant”

For the second consecutive season, LAFC exercised their experience when it was needed most to end the Vancouver Whitecaps’ season in Round One of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Black & Gold secured a 1-0 victory over the Canadian side in the decisive Game 3, advancing to the Western Conference Semifinal on Friday night at BMO Stadium.

“[Vancouver is] a very well-rounded team, very difficult to beat, and just one of those teams that we match up really not so great against. It’s very difficult for us to beat them,” head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “But we have experience in those games. At halftime, our message to the guys was look, it’s 0-0, we didn’t play great, but I’m not sure if Vancouver can play much better, and we can. We know we can do it in bigger games and that’s what we saw in the second half. I’m really proud of the guys in their effort in the second half.”

Newly-minted Polish international Mateusz Bogusz rewarded his manager’s decision to start him at the No. 9 instead of Designated Player Olivier Giroud by scoring the winning goal as he prepares to head out on international duty once again.

“​​He’s a fantastic finisher. You don’t score 20 goals if you’re not a good finisher. Those are the basics of any attacker on the field,” Cherundolo praised. “Mati also has the ability to play in midfield and so he also has the ability to pass across, to wiggle out of situations, to dribble…All of that he has been able to use in different positions but it’s always going to look the same. Credit to Mati, he understands our tactics, he listens, he adapts to them, but he still uses his tools that he has in different areas of the field and I think that makes it very difficult to defend. He took his goal very well. Every touch was perfect.”

In his breakout 2024 campaign, Bogusz has now notched 20 goals in all competitions, with his most crucial goal of the year coming on Friday night.

“We had a very good regular season but the really serious games start now so I’m very happy that I can confirm my performance from the regular season and head the team in scoring the goals,” Bogusz said. “I can’t describe a lot. I’m so, so happy. I still don’t know what happened.”

“I didn’t expect 20…