Match Preview: SDFC vs LAFC
SDFC Following LAFC's Blueprint
The aspiration I consistently heard during discussions about bringing MLS to San Diego was, "How can we make a San Diego soccer team mirror the success of LAFC?”
Los Angeles' second team had established a robust culture centered around its supporters' group, made strategic investments by acquiring a Mexican National player, and are one of the most successful expansion clubs in MLS history.
The Blueprint
The establishment of LAFC was a process that unfolded over several years. Following the dissolution of Chivas USA in 2014, LAFC was founded to fill the void as Los Angeles' second and newest team. In 2015, the Los Angeles Times reported that the new MLS team would take over the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena site in Exposition Park to construct a new 22,000-seat soccer-specific stadium. This new stadium opened in 2018, coinciding with LAFC's inaugural season.
The period between 2015 and 2018 was marked by significant developmental work. Tom Penn, a founder of LAFC, served as President and Co-Owner. Penn, with his background as a former NBA analyst, NBA executive, lawyer, and player agent, brought a wealth of sports industry experience to Los Angeles.
In 2016, alongside the approval of their new stadium, LAFC unveiled their team crest. The crest prominently features the initials "LA" and a wing, symbolizing the "City of Angels". The team's branding emphasized its intention to be Los Angeles' team, distinguishing itself from the LA Galaxy, a team playing just outside of Los Angeles.
A year later, LAFC announced the signing of their first designated player, Mexican national team star Carlos Vela. Vela was a mainstay on the Mexican national team and, early in his career, was signed by Premier League team Arsenal. During his time with Arsenal, Vela was loaned out to various clubs before finding stability and success with Real Sociedad. Vela played for Real Sociedad for six years, scoring 54 goals. Vela's signing with LAFC was a significant event. Bringing in a Mexican national team player as the club's first designated player in a city like Los Angeles, with its large Mexican-American population, was a momentous move for the club.
Another key element in the club's success is its dedicated supporters' groups, collectively known as the 3252s at BMO Stadium. From its inception, LAFC engaged with supporter groups in the area, inviting them into the club's offices. The team sought the groups' input on various aspects of the club, ranging from team colors to the design of their crest. The numbers in "3252" add up to 12, symbolizing the "12th man" – the supporters. The club's foundation has consistently prioritized the supporter culture. The collaboration between the supporters' groups and the front office is a significant factor in LAFC's success off the field.
This approach may sound familiar to SDFC fans, and for good reason. LAFC has provided a blueprint for a successful expansion club, and San Diego has aimed to follow it. Tom Penn, former LAFC president, was brought in to lead the new expansion club as CEO. SDFC developed a crest intended to represent all 18 cities within San Diego County. Additionally, the team signed a Mexican national player, Chucky Lozano, as its first designated player. From the outset, it has been clear that San Diego has been modeling its approach after LAFC's.
LAFC Today
On the field, LAFC has been one of the most successful expansion franchises in MLS. Since their inaugural season, LAFC has reached the playoffs six times in seven seasons and won the MLS Cup in 2022. LAFC has also won the Supporters' Shield twice and the US Open Cup in 2024. The 2025 season has been consistent with their prior success.
LAFC is currently third in the Western Conference standings, with San Diego FC in fourth place. Due to the Champions Cup, LAFC has played nine matches to start the 2025 season. In those nine matches, LAFC has been shut out only once, against Austin FC. Across all competitions, LAFC has scored 12 goals and allowed 10. Also, LAFC has five clean sheets in those nine matches. The team demonstrates an ability to protect a lead. They tend to adopt a more defensive style of play when up by a goal.
Key Players
To bolster their defense, LAFC relies on center-back and captain, Aaron Long. The 32-year-old, named the 2018 MLS Defender of the Year while with the New York Red Bulls, is also known for his scoring ability. Long holds the record for most goals scored by a defender in Red Bulls history. This scoring ability was evident in a recent match against Sporting KC, where Long scored a goal and was named Man of the Match. On the backline, he is recognized for his accurate passing and strong, physical presence.
LAFC's success this season also owes much to 19-year-old Venezuelan player, David Martinez. Prior to signing with LAFC, Martinez was scouted by Dutch club Ajax. Martinez is highly regarded and has been called the best Venezuelan player of his generation. Martinez has played in all MLS league matches and started the recent match against Sporting Kansas City. In that game, Martinez scored an impressive goal that was just out of the reach of Sporting KC’s goalkeeper. Last Saturday, at 19 years and 43 days old, David Martinez became the youngest player in MLS history to contribute to a goal in five consecutive road matches. Whether David Martinez starts or comes off the bench against SDFC, he is likely to make an impact on the match.
Familiar Faces
For those who have followed the Premier League in the last decade, the names Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud are likely familiar. Both players are 38 years old and in the twilight of their careers. Hugo Lloris, LAFC's goalkeeper, is the former goalkeeper for Tottenham Hotspur and the French national team. Lloris made over 400 appearances across all competitions for Tottenham Hotspur and served as their captain. At one time, Lloris was considered one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League. However, injuries, inconsistency, and a new manager led to Lloris being left out of Tottenham Hotspur's first team. In 2023, Lloris joined LAFC and has been their first-choice goalkeeper ever since.
When Olivier Giroud left AC Milan, he still showed a strong playing ability. In his final season at Milan, Giroud played over 2000 minutes and scored 15 goals. He scored 39 goals in league play with AC Milan in Serie A. Giroud has also played for Chelsea and Arsenal in the Premier League. As a striker for the French national team, Olivier Giroud has scored 57 goals in international competitions. In May of last year, it was announced that Giroud would join LAFC, and he made his debut in August. Since arriving in Los Angeles, Giroud has had difficulty scoring goals. He has scored in the Leagues Cup and US Open Cup competitions but has yet to score in MLS league play (I really hope I don’t jinx this for Saturday). He has not replicated the goal-scoring prowess that has defined his career.
SDFC News
This week, head coach Mikey Varas announced that Chucky Lozano will be available on the bench for Saturday's match against LAFC.
Additionally, a new podcast, "The Official SDFC Podcast," debuted on Wednesday, hosted by Sal Zizzo, Marvell Wynne, and Kaila Burns-Heffner. The podcast will cover previous and upcoming matches and feature interviews with players and coaches. I would compare it to a Padres hosted broadcast before games called “Padres Social Hour”. A similar feel but in podcast form. New episodes will be released every Wednesday.
Also, the rebranded "Unemployed Guys" podcast is now "Section 1904," hosted by Darren Smith and John Gennaro. Darren Smith is one of the SDFC radio voices. John Gennaro is a former writer for Bolts from the Blue and a Padres podcaster. Their new daily podcast will cover SDFC, Padres, and other topics.