LAFC arrives in Atlanta looking for 5th straight victory – Daily News

LAFC’s Mateusz Bogusz dribbles the ball past the Red Bulls’ Daniel Edelman during the first half Saturday, April 20, 2024, at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)

Mateusz Bogusz grew up with a hunger to win. After joining the Los Angeles Football Club at the start of last season, the attacking midfielder made his happiness.

“It’s the best you can do,” said Bogusz, 22, a starter in 14 of LAFC’s 15 games this year, totaling four goals and three assists to support an 8-4-3 overall record. “When you compete and especially when you win, it’s incredible. So that’s what we do.

Coming out of a losing situation in Spain with Segunda Division side Ibiza, the Polish midfielder has returned to the heart of the competition with the reigning 2022 MLS Cup champions, quickly earning chances to play in important places for head coach Steve Cherundolo.

“To be honest,” Bogusz said, “I wanted to join that type of club.”

As an in-form LAFC (6-4-3, 21 points, fifth in the Western Conference) travels to Atlanta looking for a fifth straight victory and its 100th time taking three points in a regular season game of MLS, Bogusz said he expects their current run of “very good football” to persist.

Earning the club’s 206th appearance in the league would tie LAFC with the Seattle Sounders as the fastest teams to reach 100 wins (excluding the penalty shootout era in MLS, when the LA Galaxy placed the bar in 2002 with 193 matches).

“Not only do you win championships by having good players, but it creates a winning culture for everyone in the club from A to Z,” Cherundolo said. “I have been very impressed with the way LAFC has handled its business over the first six seasons, and now we are heading into our seventh.”

As of the team’s 2018 expansion season, LAFC leads MLS in various categories, including:

Victories: 99

Points: 346

Objectives: 397

Shots on target: 1,230

Five-goal games: 11

Home record: 65-13-25

Add in eight playoff triumphs, two Supporters’ Shields, nine CONCACAF Champions League victories to go along with an MLS Cup title and individual player achievements like seven MLS Best XI appearances, 13 All-Star nominations, a MVP award and three Golden Boot trophies. , and it is evident that LAFC can be the third MLS team to advance to three consecutive championship finals.

The previous two, of course, occurred under Cherundolo, who followed Bob Bradley’s founding tenure by becoming the only first-year MLS manager to win the MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield, setting the bar for best record 50 games.

“The culture was built before I arrived, and I see my role as someone who is trying to continue on this path and maybe go further,” Cherundolo said.

“Culture is something that must be cherished, understood but also worked on on a daily basis,” he added. “It’s something we talk about regularly, especially when we’re onboarding new players and employees.”

Omar Campos, 21, a speedy Mexican fullback who signed a four-year contract with Los Angeles in January, partly attributed his decision to leave Liga MX to LAFC’s reputation for success.

“It motivated me more to give everything and continue in this search and stay in this fight to win titles,” said Campos, who, after a small period of adaptation, started and played 90 minutes in each of the previous four matches. (a combined score of 11-1 in favor of LAFC).

Extending this run to Mercedes-Benz Stadium requires winning in a building where a result has eluded LAFC twice before.