LAFC will be fully focused on bringing silverware back to Southern California when they take on Columbus Crew in the Leagues Cup final Sunday night.
The 2022 MLS Cup champions are coming off a 4-0 home triumph over fellow Western Conference team Colorado Rapids with plenty of wind in their sails ahead of the final. Denis Bouanga is in excellent form while the defense has looked sharp leading up the match at Lower.com Field.
You can watch all of the Leagues Cup 2024 action on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Cherundolo typically uses a 4-3-3 formation but has switched to a 3-4-3 in recent weeks and since the defensive formation has carried LAFC all the way to the Leagues Cup final, there’s no real reason for Cherundolo to steer away from it in such a big moment.
Here’s how the Black and Gold could lineup in the Leagues Cup final vs the Crew.
GK: Hugo Lloris – Lloris was a bystander for most of the semi-final but did manage to keep out a couple of late efforts from the Rapids.
CB: Jesus Murillo – The 30-year-old was LAFC’s best defender against Colorado and even managed to grab an assist after drifting into the midfield during the first half.
CB: Maxime Chanot – The Luxembourg international starts in the center of defense once again.
CB: Aaron Long – Long is coming off a so-so performance on the left side of the back-three, and he’ll want to put his best foot forward to give LAFC the best chance at silverware.
RWB: Sergi Palencia – Palencia hasn’t been as effective out on the right in recent matches but he’ll look to change that in the final.
CM: Eduard Atuesta – Atuesta will look to impact the final as a free-roaming midfielder in the final third as he can pick out a pass from anywhere on the pitch while also having a decent shot in his locker.
CM: Ilie Sanchez – Cherundolo knows he can count on Sanchez in the middle of the park to clean up loose balls and kickstart attacks.
LWB: Ryan Hollingshead – The experienced full-back picked up a couple of assists in the win over the Rapids, and Cherundolo will hope he can put in a similar performance Sunday night.
RW: Mateusz Bogusz – Cherundolo could be tempted to swap out Bogusz for Cristian Olivera but the Poland international has been in such good form recently that it would be tough to take him out of the team.
ST: Olivier Giroud – The 37-year-old managed the entire second half against Colorado so it’s not entirely out of reason to think he could perhaps feature from the jump in the final.
LW: Denis Bouanga – One of the best forwards on the continent starts out on the left-wing, looking to add his seventh goal of the campaign.
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