LAFC closed out its five-day stay at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif., with a preseason scrimmage against New York City FC (NYCFC) as part of the Coachella Valley Invitational.
Denis Bouanga came on as a late substitute to score the equalizer in the 1-1 draw, which served as extended training session designed to challenge the less experienced players on LAFC’s roster, and an opportunity to mingle with fans afterward.
LAFC now travels back to Los Angeles to prepare for its 2026 opener, a date with Honduran club Real España in the first leg of their opening-round matchup in Concacaf Champions Cup.
Head coach Marc Dos Santos started an eleven against NYCFC that, aside from goalkeeper Thomas Hasal (age 26) and defender Ryan Hollingshead (34), were all 23 years old or younger. Among Sunday's starters, only Hollingshead, defender Artem Smolyakov, and forward Nathan Ordaz are expected to contribute impactful minutes in the early stage of the MLS regular season.
“I was really happy with the first 60 minutes,” Dos Santos said after the match. “We had a really young group on the field, and I liked the attitude, the commitment that the younger players tried to play with, had the courage to play with. We said if we could bring the game to the 65th minute or so, when we would make all our changes, then I felt that we could change something in the game. That's what happened.
“We tied the game, we could have scored again and made it 2-1," Dos Santos added. "But I think everybody's really adapting well to how we want to play. They're adapting well to the model of play and it's important that not only the older guys, but also the younger guys are able to work in that way. ”
LAFC’s young eleven played NYCFC’s MLS regulars to a scoreless first half before the defending Eastern Conference finalists found the opening goal in the 50th minute through Nicolás Fernández Mercau.
In the 67th minute, LAFC brought on a platoon of substitutes, as Bouanga was joined up front by David Martínez, and midfielders Timmy Tillman and Mark Delgado came on with defenders Eddie Segura, Sergi Palencia, Nkosi Tafari, and Ryan Porteous.
Forward Tyler Boyd, who had started the second half, shifted to a central attacking position between Bouanga and Martínez, filling the role usually occupied by MLS Newcomer of the Year finalist Son Heung-Min, who has trained this week in Coachella but did not see action on Sunday.
In the 88th minute, Martínez fought for and won the ball deep in NYCFC’s half and flicked it to a waiting Bouanga near the six-yard box. LAFC’s all-time leading scorer popped it in the air to himself, whirled, and volleyed a no-look left-footed finish past New York City keeper Matt Freese that tied the score and finished the club’s five-day desert getaway on a positive note.
“That was the plan,” Dos Santos said. “It's not easy when you do changes all at the same time and then the eight new players have to adapt right away to the rhythm of the game. I think it took maybe 5 to 10 minutes, but once they got going it was really positive. Now we have one more friendly, closed-doors, and then we get ready for the battle. ”
Tuesday's closed-door friendly will take place at BMO Stadium against Club Tijuana of Liga MX, an opponent that is unbeaten (1W-0L-4D) in the current Liga MX Clausura season and whose style of play is similar to that of Real España. LAFC will face Real España on February 17 at Estadio General Francisco Morazán in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. LAFC will host the second leg of the two-leg matchup at BMO Stadium on February 24.
The private scrimmage against Tijuana “is our last test before going to Honduras,” Dos Santos said. “We're going to try using this game to stretch a lot of these guys to 90 minutes. Then we have the regen [regeneration] session, a day off, and then we’ll have four trainings leading to the game. ”
Asked what he takes away from these five days in the desert, Dos Santos said: “We have a great group of guys. They get along, they work well together, and that's important. They like each other, they like to be with each other. I saw it in the five days here. You don't win games only by training together or being on the field together, you win games because you enjoy being with each other and that's what I saw in the group. They will fight with each other. ”
LAFC kicks off its 2026 MLS regular season on February 21, against Inter Miami, at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The Black & Gold’s home opener at BMO Stadium is scheduled for March 7 against FC Dallas. Visit the club’s 2026 schedule and season ticket membership pages for more information.
