Olivier Giroud makes LAFC debut as club advances to Leagues Cup quarterfinals – Press Enterprise Fitnessnacks

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LOS ANGELES — In a blowout that featured the Los Angeles Football Club debut for famed French striker Olivier Giroud, the Black & Gold emphatically punched their ticket to the quarterfinal round of the Leagues Cup.

Dismantling the San Jose Earthquakes, 4-1, on Tuesday night at BMO Stadium, LAFC’s usual suspects – Dénis Bouanga, Cristian Olivera and Mateusz Bogusz – each scored prior to Giroud’s planned arrival off the bench in the 71st minute.

LAFC’s new Designated Player got his first taste of action as he works to optimize his fitness in the midst of competitive matches, but Giroud’s teammates assured that the 37-year-old No. 9 didn’t have to do much to make it a good experience for the announced crowd of 14,911.

“I wish I could play even more tonight but obviously it’s better to restart step by step,” said Giroud, who arrived in L.A. with his wife and four children two weeks ago. “But I felt very good on the pitch and I’m looking forward to the next game.”

Following the Leagues Cup group stage and a pair of knockout games, LAFC will depart BMO Stadium for the first time in the tournament when it visits the Seattle Sounders on Saturday at Lumen Field.

Giroud said he should not have a problem playing on Seattle’s artificial turf while acclimating to the differences between the European and American game, including, for instance, having an extra beat or two to get settled in the box, or seeing his loved ones on the field after the final whistle.

“It’s such a great feeling, you know,” Giroud said. “That makes you understand that you arrive in a proper family and seeing them play in the dressing room, taking the picture after the manager’s speech, all together it’s the life I was looking for and I’m very happy as you can see based on my smile.”

The final score helped, too.

Both teams took turns searching for space before LAFC found the room it wanted in the 17th minute.

Capitalizing on a poor clearance inside the visitors’ half of the field, Ryan Hollingshead, who joined Sergi Palencia as a wingback flanking a three-man back line that included Maxime Chanot, Jesus Murillo and Aaron Long, rushed forward to win a 50-50 ball that allowed Cristian Olivera to take a touch and get a free run at goalkeeper William Yarbrough. The Uruguayan coolly finished his fourth goal of the competition.

The Earthquakes nearly equalized in the 25th minute when Jeremy Ebobisse, who entered the contest leading Leagues Cup in goals, exploited a gap between Murillo and Palencia on the left, giving forward Amahl Pellegrino a chance to strike a first-time half-volley, which he did perfectly.

Giroud’s longtime friend, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, read the shot and reacted as well as anyone could by diving to his left and parrying away the attempt.

LAFC almost doubled its lead, first with a quality chance in front of goal for Mateusz Bogusz that went over the crossbar and then a line drive by Bouanga from 30 yards out, before the visitors, who entered Leagues Cup as the worst team in MLS by nine points, got back into the game in the 41st minute when Hernán López redirected a cross into the net.

But LAFC regained the lead prior to the break with a combination play that freed midfielder Eduard Atuesta against the Earthquakes’ goalkeeper, who clipped the Colombian’s heel and set up a penalty kick that Bouanga converted.

LAFC sealed the win after the 1-hour mark when Bogusz struck a dipping shot from 25 yards that probably should have been saved but handcuffed Yarbrough insead.

Five minutes later, Bouanga secured his sixth multi-goal game of the year following a pass into space by Olivera that allowed the French winger to dance, which he did by cutting to his left and putting a capper on the scoreline.

Olivera and Bouanga both have four goals in the competition, tying them for second most in 2024. All-time in Leagues Cup action, Bouanga leads Lionel Messi for the most goal contributions.

The last time Bouanga scored more than once came in a 3-0 win at Seattle when the familiar sides met in their last MLS game prior to the month-long pause for Leagues Cup.

Saturday’s showdown between the Western Conference rivals takes place before they clash in another knockout contest on Aug. 28 in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal.

“For us, it’s a precursor of what’s to come in the Open Cup,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “So it’s a big game. It’s fun. Those are great matches against Seattle. Very intense. I’m looking forward to it. Decided by difference-makers. Right now our difference-makers are showing up, and that needs to continue.”

He loves to score in Leagues Cup 💥

Cristian Olivera with the moves and finish to give us the lead.#LAFCvSJ 1-0 pic.twitter.com/7PJF8t4FjR