SPORTING STALEMATE

LAFC

LOS ANGELES - Hugo Lloris made six incredible saves down the stretch, but the offense couldn’t penetrate Sporting Kansas City in a 0-0 draw Saturday night at BMO Stadium. 

It was Lloris’s first clean sheet in MLS, marked by ovations from the crowd on each save. Kansas City dominated possession for most of the game, with sloppy LAFC passes to blame for the turnovers that got them there. 

In the last minutes of stoppage, LAFC pushed for a late winner but one shot went way high, and SKC’s Tim Melia made the knock-away save on another just before the ref blew the full time whistle. 

Despite both teams sporting the same shot statline, it’s LAFC’s shots that proved the more threatening on the pitch, but SKC’s defense locked them down every time, and errant crosses punished the Black & Gold down the stretch. 

Even Denis Bouanga wasn’t without a bad shot. Last year’s Golden Boot winner is still quiet this season, but LAFC has faith. He just signed an extension with the team through 2027. 

Cherundolo’s side still has time to mature and find its footing without the pieces from last year (namely Carlos Vela and Giorgio Chiellini), but the next few matches will tell the narrative of the season, and LAFC needs to break the now two-game winless stretch if it hopes to make its splash. 

LAFC visits Minnesota United FC Saturday.