Steve Cherundolo says Los Angeles FC will force the issue when they take on the Colorado Rapids in a huge clash of Western Conference contenders on Saturday.
LAFC lead the way in the West with 37 points, though Real Salt Lake and the LA Galaxy are only behind them due to winning one game fewer.
LAFC's fine run of form continued with a 6-2 rout of the San Jose Earthquakes last weekend, with Mateusz Bogusz scoring twice as they raced into a 5-0 lead within just 48 minutes.
Cherundolo expects a different level of test from the Rapids, who are just six points off the summit after an encouraging start to Chris Armas' tenure.
"They're a difficult team to beat, they're playing very well, they're disciplined, compact and also very vertical," Cherundolo said of Colorado.
"Chris has done a great job, and you can see it's a well-coached team. They found a way to be successful and they're sticking to it.
"We believe that every system has its own abilities, it's just a matter of how well we can impose ours on them."
Colorado have won their last three matches after enduring a mini slump, but like his opposite number, Armas is wary of the challenge his team will face on Saturday.
"It's another busy stretch coming up so in many ways it's right back to basics and we'll just try to get better," Armas said.
"We're always looking at every game as a test of how we can improve. We know they're a good team, they're playing really well, but we're looking forward to it.
"They just scored six but they're also one of the better defensive teams. You can see how explosive that offense is and we'll have to be at our best to get anything."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Los Angeles FC – Mateusz Bogusz
Bogusz has a goal contribution in eight straight MLS matches, with only Luciano Acosta having a longer such streak this season (nine).
That is the second-longest such streak in regular-season play by an LAFC player, behind only Carlos Vela (11 straight spanning 2019 and 2020).
Colorado Rapids – Djordje Mihailovic
Mihailovic has six goal contributions in his last two games, with three goals Wednesday against St. Louis City and a goal and two assists against CF Montreal last Saturday.
His six goal contributions are the most ever over a span of two MLS games by a Rapids player.
MATCH PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES FC WIN
The home team has lost only one of the 11 all-time meetings between LAFC and Colorado (nine wins, one draw).
LAFC have won all five of their previous home matches against the Rapids by a combined score of 14-1. While the Rapids will certainly put up a fight this week, the hosts enter as favourites.
Cherundolo's team are unbeaten in their last eight league games, winning seven and drawing the other at Austin FC. At home, they have won five in a row.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Los Angeles FC – 62.2%
Colorado Rapids – 17.8%
Draw – 20%
Hurtig the hero after late goal sends Arsenal into Champions League quarters
Lina Hurtig's 89th minute winner ensured Arsenal progressed to the quarter-finals of the Women's Champions League after edging Juventus 1-0 on Thursday.
After being frustrated for large parts of the encounter, Hurtig bundled home from close range after Martina Lenzini's poor clearance to book the Gunners' place in the last eight.
Despite Arsenal dominating the early exchanges, it was Juventus who had the first sight of goal, though Eva Schatzer's effort was easy for Daphne van Domselaar to gather.
In a first half that saw just two shots on target, both coming from the visitors, Renee Slegers' substitutes proved to be the difference for Arsenal.
Slegers introduced Beth Mead, Stina Blackstenius and Hurtig late on, with the latter somehow putting Kim Little's cross over the bar from five yards out.
However, the Swede would atone for her earlier error, combining with fellow substitute Blackstenius to net against her former club and send them out of the competition with two group games remaining.
Meanwhile, in Group D, Barcelona edged closer to the quarter-finals of the competition with a convincing 4-1 victory over St. Polten at the Generali Arena.
The reigning champions are still three points behind Manchester City following their 2-1 win over Hammarby, and know a win against the Swedes next month will see them progress.
Kika Nazareth opened the scoring in the 20th minute after capitalising on a mistake by Kamila Dubcova, notching her second nine minutes later from close range.
Barca found themselves three goals up at the break when Vicky Lopez netted her first goal in the competition to put the result beyond doubt.
There was also a landmark moment for Alexia Putellas, who netted her 200th goal for the club with a well-taken effort into the far corner.
Valentina Madl took some of the shine off an otherwise impressive display from the visitors, who have now taken their tally to 20 goals from their four matches in the competition.
Guardiola agrees two-year contract extension with Man City
Pep Guardiola will be Manchester City manager for at least two more seasons after 2024-25, after he signed a two-year contract extension on Thursday.
The 53-year-old was coming to the end of his City deal, which was due to expire at the end of the current campaign, but he has opted to remain at the Etihad Stadium.
The deal itself will take Guardiola's tenure at the club to over a decade, making him City's longest-serving manager since Les McDowall in 1963.
There had been suggestions that he may leave at the end of the season following the announcement that director of football Txiki Begiristain was on his way out.
Guardiola was strongly linked with the England job after Gareth Southgate resigned in the wake of their Euro 2024 final defeat, but the Football Association appointed Thomas Tuchel last month.
“Manchester City means so much to me," Guardiola said. “This is my ninth season here; we have experienced so many amazing times together. I have a really special feeling for this football club.
“That is why I am so happy to be staying for another two more seasons.
“Thank you to everyone for continuing to trust and support me – The Owner, The Chairman Khaldoon, Ferran, Txiki, the players and, of course, the fans… everyone connected to Manchester City. It has always been an honour, a pleasure and a privilege to be here.
“I have said this many times before, but I have everything a manager could ever wish for, and I appreciate that so much.
“Hopefully, now we can add more trophies to the ones we have already won. That will be my focus.”
Having been appointed in 2016, Guardiola is by some distance Manchester City's most successful manager of all time, having won 18 major trophies during his time at the club.
That list includes their first-ever Champions League triumph in 2023 and six Premier League titles, including an unprecedented four on the spin.
He also boasts a 72.04% win percentage across all competitions, which is unsurprisingly the highest of any full-time City manager in history.
Shaw at the double as Man City progress in Champions League
Khadija Shaw scored twice as Manchester City beat Hammarby 2-1 to seal their place in the Women's Champions League quarter-finals.
Gareth Taylor's team entered Thursday's game with a perfect record in Group D, and their fourth win in as many European matches ensured they finished in the top two.
Shaw—the leading scorer in the Women's Super League this season with eight goals—put them ahead in the 31st minute, driving into the area after taking in Yui Hasegawa's pass before seeing her shot deflect into the top corner.
Shaw was booked for celebrating in front of the home fans despite appearing to have objects thrown at her from the stands, and Hammarby should have levelled when Julia Blakstad fired wide 10 minutes later.
The hosts did draw level three minutes into the second half as Ellen Wangerheim tapped home while City's Laura Blindkilde Brown was down appealing for a free-kick.
That parity was short-lived, though, as Shaw blasted into the top corner from 25 yards out, taking her overall tally for this season to 12 goals in all competitions.
In Group C, meanwhile, Bayern Munich lost their perfect record as they played out a 1-1 draw with Valerenga, boosting Arsenal's hopes of topping the pile.
Jovana Damnjanovic came off the bench to put Bayern ahead 15 minutes from time in Norway, but Elise Thorsnes headed home following an 88th-minute corner to snatch a point for the hosts.
Arsenal could now move within a point of Bayern when they face Juventus in Group C's other match later on Thursday.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
