Let's turn around and do it again.
Just days after our historic victory over León in the Concacaf Champions League, LAFC is back. On Sunday, the Black & Gold kick off Season 3 at Banc of California Stadium against debutants Inter Miami CF.
- Ticket Info | LAFC vs Cruz Azul | Concacaf Champions League Quarterfinals
- 5 Takeaways | LAFC Writes A New Chapter With 3-0 Win Over León
LAFC has learned how important a great start to the MLS season can be over the past two seasons. With Inter Miami looking to get it first points as an MLS side, it's going to be another exciting start to an MLS season at the Banc.
Here's a preview of LAFC's Season 3 kickoff against Inter Miami CF:
LAFC vs Inter Miami CF | March 1 at 2:30pm PT
Where To Watch
TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes
Radio: ESPNLA 710, KFWB 980
Opponent Form
Like LAFC in 2018, Inter Miami is attempting to write their story. They've made a major signing with the arrival of Rodolfo Pizarro from Monterrey, have a coach that's accomplished in Liga MX, and assembled a squad of young players they hope will be eager to impress this season. But as of yet, we don't know what to expect from the newcomers.
What The Team Is Saying
Mark-Anthony Kaye on the quick turnaround from Thursday to Sunday: "It's going to be hard, for sure. But that's why we have depth. The owners and coaches went and got extra players in certain positions so that we can rotate. It's going to be important."
Bob Bradley on balancing two competitions to start the season: "It's our home opener. So, we've got to be ready. You talked about other teams that couldn't manage both [competitions], we're going to try. We're going to try like crazy to make sure that same football and the same mentality is there every night, regardless of the competition and regardless of who is on the field."
What To Watch For
The Return Of Lee Nguyen: Lee Nguyen spent two seasons with LAFC. He played a pivotal role on and off the pitch. As a player, he was a big part of LAFC's ability to control matches through midfield and as a teammate he was always ready and willing to compete and work even when he wasn't in the starting XI. Players with that level of talent and commitment aren't always easy to find. Sadly, in expansion years, there are tough decisions and Inter Miami was happy to select a player of Nguyen's quality in the Expansion Draft. I'd expect Nguyen to receive a warm welcome when he returns to the pitch at the Banc.
Rotation: After the epic comeback on Thursday night, people immediately started wondering how LAFC would turn it around for a game less than 72 hours later. The answer is through rotation. LAFC is deeper than its ever been in its short history. Bob Bradley and his staff will have to work to find the right balance between players that featured on Thursday and those waiting in the squad. This is a good early test of what will likely become a theme this season as LAFC looks to compete on multiple fronts throughout the entire year.
A Little Home Opener Magic: Laurent Ciman's free kick in 2018, Adama Diomande's gutsy finish in 2019, Banc of California Stadium has seen its share of magic moments in home openers. Both winners came in stoppage time, so I recommend not leaving your seat until the final whistle. After what we witnessed on Thursday night, I wouldn't doubt there some more LAFC magic in store.
