Minnesota United, LAFC have high hopes after playoff runs

The teams that lost in the semifinals of the MLS Cup Western Conference playoffs last season square off when Minnesota United visits Los Angeles FC on Saturday afternoon in the league opener for both teams.

LAFC, who won the MLS Cup in 2023, finished first in the West last season with a 19-8-7 record for 64 points while the Loons were sixth with a 15-12-7 mark and 52 points.

LAFC defeated Vancouver in the first round of the playoffs before being eliminated with a 2-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders in the semifinals, while Minnesota defeated Real Salt Lake on penalty kicks in the first round before losing to the eventual champion Los Angeles Galaxy in the semifinals.

LAFC got a head start on the season with a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids on Tuesday night in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup in frigid Commerce City, Colo. The two teams play again next Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

The game with the Rapids was the second-coldest soccer game involving two MLS teams with the temperature hitting just six degrees Fahrenheit, or about 70 degrees lower than what is expected for Saturday afternoon's game with the Loons.

"You can't (prepare for the cold temperatures)," LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said afterward. "You just make the best of it while you're out there. There's no way to prepare. We prepare to play in the opposite conditions. We play in the summer months, so it's impossible to prepare."

Los Angeles, led by former Premier League and French national stars Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud, fell behind 2-0 and got what could be a crucial goal by defender Aaron Long in the 86th minute.

"The goal was really important for us," Cherundolo said. "A real momentum swing, if you will, and away goals do count in this competition, so a 1-0 victory at home Tuesday puts us through."

Minnesota United, who dealt with their share of below-zero temperatures in the Twin Cities last week, flew out to Southern California on Wednesday.

The Loons are led by Finnish national Robin Lod (seven goals, 15 assists in 2024) in the midfield, top Canadian goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, designated player striker Kelvin Yeboah (nine goals in 12 games across regular season and playoffs) and veteran defender Michael Boxall.

"We want to win a trophy, whether that's League Cup, Open Cup or MLS Cup," midfielder Wil Trapp said.

"I think we've banked six weeks or so of really good work," Minnesota head coach Eric Ramsay said. "We feel like we're in a really good place, but then the realities of the season hit home."

The two teams traded 2-0 home wins last season. LAFC leads the all-time series 4-3-5.

--Field Level Media