LAFC Shows Defensive Discipline in 1-0 Win Over NYCFC

Four games into the 2025 MLS season is still too early to form definitive opinions on a team’s structure and identity. However, in LAFC’s 1-0 victory over NYCFC, Steve Cherundolo’s squad demonstrated discipline and adaptability against an opponent that presented a much different challenge compared to Minnesota United and the Colorado Rapids—two teams that rely heavily on a bunker-and-counter approach.

Under new head coach Pascal Jansen, NYCFC played a more pragmatic style, focusing on possession and minimizing turnovers that could lead to counterattacks. Defensively, they remained compact, getting numbers behind the ball to make it difficult for LAFC to break them down.

Despite that, LAFC once again executed “Dolo Ball” to near perfection—a system built on disciplined defending and well-timed counter-pressing. Whether winning the ball back after losing possession or disrupting NYCFC’s buildup, LAFC excelled at isolating opponents and capitalizing on poor touches. What made the performance even more impressive was that it came with squad rotation in anticipation of Tuesday’s Concacaf Champions Cup clash against Eastern Conference nemesis Columbus Crew.

Cherundolo Rolls Out a 3-4-3 Formation

For the first time this season, Cherundolo deployed a 3-4-3 formation. New signing Yaw Yeboah, picked up from Columbus, started at left wing-back. The back three consisted of Marlon, Eddie Segura, and Nkosi Tafari, who made his first start for LAFC. On the right, Sergi Palencia filled the wing-back role.

In midfield, Timothy Tillman and Igor Jesus were relentless, constantly pressuring NYCFC’s players and working hard off the ball.

The front three featured Denis Bouanga, Jeremy Ebobisse, and Nathan Ordaz. While LAFC’s attack showed glimpses of promise, it remained one-dimensional, with squandered opportunities due to poor touches and questionable decision-making in the final third. This frontline has potential but has yet to fully click.

With both teams finishing with 0.4 xG through the first 60 minutes, the game had the feel of a goalless draw—especially with NYCFC dealing with cross-country travel and LAFC keeping one eye on Tuesday’s Champions Cup match.

Game-Changing Substitutions

At the 61st minute, LAFC made its first substitutions, bringing in Mark Delgado for Igor Jesus, Ryan Hollingshead for Marlon, and Andrés Martínez for Ordaz, shifting into a 4-3-3 formation. This adjustment immediately gave LAFC more attacking fluidity.

In the 77th minute, Olivier Giroud replaced Ebobisse, and Artem Smolyakov, a 21-year-old Ukrainian left-back, made his LAFC debut.

Just nine minutes later, NYCFC nearly broke the deadlock. Fernandez delivered a dangerous cross to Alonso Martínez, but the forward mishit his shot, allowing Hugo Lloris to make an easy save. Lloris, widely regarded as the best distributor among MLS goalkeepers, quickly launched a left-sided throw to Smolyakov, who took two touches before firing a line-breaking pass to Giroud, igniting a 3-on-4 counterattack.

Giroud found Bouanga, who cut onto his left foot and whipped in a cross just beyond the penalty spot. NYCFC defender Birk Risa misplayed his clearance, and the ball fell to Ryan Hollingshead, who buried it to give LAFC the decisive 1-0 lead.

LAFC’s Defensive Streak Continues

With this result, LAFC has now gone three consecutive matches without conceding a goal. The formula is simple: if you keep a clean sheet, you only need one goal to win.

However, for this team to become truly unstoppable, the midfield must develop the vision to break defensive lines with central passes. So far, the lack of incisive passing has made LAFC’s attack predictable.