LAFC unable to finish chances in frustrating scoreless draw with Atlanta United

Following a disappointing Concacaf Champions League final defeat, LAFC looked to bounce back in league play as the Angelinos hosted Atlanta United at BMO Stadium. The team’s ability to effectively overcome their CCL setback became the storyline on Wednesday night.

“Judging by the performance I think [the players] are handling [the CCL defeat] quite well. I think we’ve already digested the Champions League final.” Steve Cherundolo proclaimed. “There’s no way you play a game like that tonight if you hadn’t.”

The performance Cherundolo is referring to was a dominant one. LAFC recorded twenty-two shots compared to Atlanta’s eight, preventing a single shot on target from the visitors while producing eight for themselves, resulting in a 2.3 to 0.8 full-time xG advantage. 

“The guys played fantastic and deserved to win,” Cherundolo determined. “It’s obviously a pretty dominant performance from us — exactly what we wanted.”

The only thing missing was two of three possible points. Carlos Vela skying the Black and Gold’s biggest chance from the penalty spot summed up the home side’s night as quality chances wouldn’t hit the back of the net. Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan was a major reason why, recording a career-high nine saves in the match. John McCarthy could nap at one end while Brad Guzan stood on his head at the other. Still, the game ended in a scoreless draw.

“That's just how this sport works.” Cherundolo quipped.

You can’t lose without conceding

McCarthy didn’t make a save all night. Not because he was poor, or because he let in unnecessary goals, but because the LAFC defense did not allow a single shot on target over ninety minutes. In the first fifteen minutes of the match, LAFC retreated defensively before stepping up the pressure as the game wore on. 

“We were quite mobile defensively. We were committed to pressing high and that’s the only way it functions,” Cherundolo analyzed. “It looked a lot like the clips we show guys in preseason.”

The LAFC coach is unlikely to give higher praise than comparing his side’s pressing to that of perfect example clips. This is one of the reasons LAFC was able to contain two of the most dangerous players in MLS, Thiago Almada and Georgios Giakoumakis. With 23 goal contributions combined this season, Almada and Giakoumakis are tied for the most dangerous attacking duo in MLS alongside Philadelphia’s Daniel Gazdag and Julian Carranza (23 combined goal contributions).

“[Giakoumakis is] a complicated person to mark but I had to be concentrated. I knew that from the get-go,” Jesús Murillo explained to me post-match. “In those instances where he shifted to Denil [Maldonado]’s position or mine, we shifted there so we focused on marking him and locking him down.”

Lock him down they did, as Giakoumakis recorded the fewest touches (24) and fewest passes (11) of any player to start the match for Atlanta. One of the most dangerous duos in MLS was utterly shut down by LAFC’s South American center backs, ensuring a much-needed bounce-back point for the home side.

From academy to first team

Erik Dueñas keeps getting better. In 2023, the 18-year-old is becoming the first academy product to make a significant impact with the LAFC first team. Developing his creative influence will take the most time. However, for a young player, there is nothing more important than tactical positioning. Knowing where to be at all times is the most difficult thing to do on a football pitch. The perfect touch under pressure takes time either way. 

Dueñas' defensive positioning has been consistently impressive; he always seems to be in the right place, with the energy and motivation to win the ball back immediately when he does lose possession. He is always around the ball with pest-like persistence. Such desire from a young player is an expectation, but combining it with tactical awareness can be the foundation of a fantastic footballer. Witnessing the development of Dueñas is an absolute privilege.

A big part of Dueñas’s successful development is the veteran leadership at LAFC. Ilie Sánchez, a veteran midfield leader on the squad, has told its youngsters that veterans will not be upset when mistakes are made, but will be upset if the youngsters play scared.

“Creating an environment where everybody has a role is very important. Ilie’s role is obviously to play well but also to be a leader amongst others,” Cherundolo outlined. “Creating that environment for younger players to then come through and thrive and to teach them and not to block them is very important and something we try to culture and help along. The atmosphere around the club and our balance between experienced and non-experienced players is excellent. It’s perfect for younger players like Erik [Dueñas] and Nathan [Ordaz] and when they are called on so far this season they’ve gotten the job done.”

Dueñas has taken every lesson to heart. One of the most humble kids you will ever meet, the academy product will continue to learn from some of the best midfielders in MLS as the LAFC culture continues to foster the development of the next generation.

We have to talk about the penalty

"We write two guys on the sheet and those guys make a decision,” Cherundolo commented on the LAFC penalty takers. “Both are quite experienced and capable of connecting on the penalty. Just not sure if we need to discuss that. I think next time that will take care of itself."

Cherundolo may not feel the need to discuss it, but fans do. With Carlos Vela now four of six on the year from the spot (four of seven if you include retakes), many are asking if Dénis Bouanga should be taking the penalties. The Gabonese superstar is one for one on penalties this season but is also chasing the MLS Golden Boot, an award he already won in CCL this season. Currently sitting as the joint-top scorer in MLS with Hany Mukhtar on ten goals, penalties could be the boost Bouanga needs to ensure the scoring crown for himself. 

Throughout his career, Vela has been a stellar penalty taker with 34 penalties scored and 9 missed (79% conversion). Bouanga, on the other hand, has taken significantly fewer penalties but maintains a higher conversion rate after missing only one of his twelve attempted penalties throughout his career (92% conversion).

Essentially, there are two questions: Is Vela a better penalty taker than Bouanga? If not, should Bouanga get his chance? Ultimately, as fans and pundits continue to debate this topic, only two people’s opinions actually matter — the pair of superstar forwards who share the Black and Gold penalty responsibilities. You’d have to assume they know best anyway.