In several ways, the Western Conference clash between first-place San Diego and fifth-place Los Angeles Football Club is massive, which explains the standing-room-only overcapacity crowd expected to fill BMO Stadium Sunday night.
Twenty-seven days between home games and 39 since their last Major League Soccer contest on Christmas Tree Lane, suffice to say LAFC supporters have eyed this one since the regular season schedule was released in December.
Interest in the league’s 30th team is natural considering geography and the sporting history between the cities. On those terms alone, their home and away regular season meetings in 2025 were going to feel like a big deal.
“I’d be lying if I would have picked them to be in first place at this point at the beginning of the season, so I’m honest enough,” said LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo, a native San Diegan. “When you watch them play and analyze their play, it’s definitely not surprising. It’s very effective. It’s very vertical. It’s very consistent. They do not sway left or right when certain opponents come or challenges appear. I have only good things to say about what Mikey (Varas) has done as a coach and how his players have interpreted what he wants to see on the field. They have good organization. I do think we can beat them, and I look forward to seeing this matchup.”
Between that and everything else involved in this one, you’re looking at a real “Sunday Night Soccer” attraction.
LAFC (11-6-8) is 12 points behind SDFC (16-7-5), but with three games in hand, seeks to make a late run and climb the table. For those matches to matter in October, returning the favor against San Diego at home on Labor Day weekend is imperative.
Five months after SDFC raced out to a three-goal lead over LAFC at Snapdragon Stadium, the rematch in view of Downtown L.A. could produce a league-record tying seventh consecutive road win for San Diego, its 10th this year.
SDFC entered Matchday 31 second in the Supporters’ Shield race, and was the first MLS side to clinch a playoff berth last week.
The visitors should field a starting XI similar to the one that became the first expansion side to defeat the Black & Gold in nine tries (7-1-1).
LAFC, on the other hand, practically turned over its roster.
By itself, the impactful acquisition of Son Heung-min makes Sunday massive for the simple reason that it marks the 33-year-old South Korean superstar’s home debut, which should amplify an atmosphere that doesn’t need extra juice to feel electric.
While waiting for what felt like a year to play in front of LAFC supporters, Son said he made good use of road trips to Chicago, New England and Dallas the past three weeks by getting to know his new teammates, including some who won’t be available Sunday.
Fullback Ryan Hollingshead is suspended due to yellow card accumulation. Also gone, stout defensive midfielder Igor Jesus, the consistent Brazilian U-22 from Flamengo, who is out for the remainder of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, the club announced Friday.
Jesus joins center back and captain Aaron Long, who went down with a ruptured Achilles tendon in July, on the season-ending injury list.
Cherundolo does not have a like-for-like replacement for Jesus, whose physicality was a unique attribute, yet the coach said he has ways to fill the void.
New midfielders, Canadian Mathieu Choinière and Ireland’s Andy Moran, bring balance and more attention to the attack than Jesus, so Americans Mark Delgado or Timothy Tillman are likely to move in front of the defenders.
Center back Maxime Chanot, 35, won’t be among that group now or for the rest of the year after retiring Wednesday with a head injury. The Frenchman suffered a concussion in the preseason. During his return a couple of months later, he was removed with symptoms. Chanot suited up five more games through the Club World Cup, but not since the end of June.
Debuting for LAFC in Dallas, Scottish newcomer Ryan Porteous, 26, is in line for playing time alongside Nkosi Tafari or Eddie Segura.
This week, LAFC also added 31-year-old free agent Romanian winger Alexandru Bǎluțǎ.
SDFC AT LAFC
When: Sunday, 7:45 p.m.
Where: BMO Stadium, Los Angeles
TV/Radio: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV/710 AM, 980 AM, 1230 AM
