A patriotic coaching battle to kick off Leagues Cup 2024 in Los Angeles? It's all happening in Los Angeles on Friday with a 11 p.m. ET kickoff.
After taking over as Club Tijuana manager from Miguel Herrera to start the season (just as he did with the Mexican National Team back in 2015), Juan Carlos Osorio will lead his team into BMO Stadium on Friday to author a new chapter in the ever-growing MLS vs. LIGA MX rivalry against an LAFC side led by former U.S. Men’s National Team right-back Steve Cherundolo — who has recently been linked to the vacant USMNT head coaching position thanks to his success in Los Angeles.
Building on the geographical overlap between the two leagues, creativity in Osorio’s team relies on players who carry significant MLS experience: Efrain Álvarez (formerly of the LA Galaxy) and newly signed playmaker Emanuel Reynoso (formerly of Minnesota United). The pair is expected to produce chances for striker Carlos Gonzalez, who scored an impressive nine goals in last season’s Apertura campaign for Xolos. Captain Christian Rivera will set up those attacks, running the show for Tijuana from deeper midfield position with the ball at his feet. Defensively, Tijuana added Liga MX All-Star center-back Unai Bilbao in the offseason.
Cherundolo’s LAFC lacks the benefit of similar experience in LIGA MX, outside of left back Omar Campos — who hasn’t consistently cracked the Black & Gold starting XI in his first MLS season. Still, the stars in Black & Gold are scoring at a rate Gonzalez aspires to.
Reigning MLS Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga is in the race for top scorer again this year, having scored 16 league goals — just one goal off the leader’s pace — along with nine assists. Unlike last year when Bouanga was a lonely talisman, LAFC’s Mateusz Bogusz joined the goalscoring party this campaign with 13 goals and six assists.
France’s all-time leading goalscorer, Olivier Giroud, is expected to make his Black & Gold debut in Leagues Cup after recently signing with the club, but he won’t be available against Xolos. In the meantime, France’s all-time appearance leader and World Cup-winning captain, Hugo Lloris, will be in goal.
Following two losses in the tournament last season, Xolos is still searching for its first Leagues Cup point and its first trophy since lifting the 2012-13 LIGA MX Apertura title.
After crashing out in the quarterfinal stage of last season’s Leagues Cup, LAFC knows what it takes to win — having appeared in four major finals over the past two seasons. This year they aim to add to their trophy cabinet.
Locked in and ready for kickoff, both clubs will be intent on improving from last year’s Leagues Cup finish.
