LOS ANGELES — If depth is an issue for the Los Angeles Football Club in 2023, Sunday’s match at BMO Stadium provided an early opportunity to see how the bench measures up.
Making four changes to a starting lineup that produced a league win over Portland last weekend and a resounding CONCACAF Champions League victory on Thursday, the Black & Gold easily defeated the previously unbeaten New England Revolution 4-0.
LAFC captain Carlos Vela joined regulars Jose Cifuentes, Ryan Hollingshead and Giorgio Chiellini on the sidelines for much of their third game in eight days — the middle of five contests over the club’s opening two-week stretch as defending MLS champions.
In their places, Croatian attacker Stipe Biuk, German midfielder Timothy Tillman, Spanish fullback Sergi Palencia and American center Aaron Long secured their first starts with the club.
“I think the only thing that’s important for players to understand is it’s a long season,” said LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo. “Everyone will be needed and everyone will play a role. How big that role is we’ll see at the end of the season, but it’s important to understand that all roles are important and need to be fulfilled. I think everyone understands that here.”
Tillman, 24, made his presence felt in the opening quarter hour when he was fouled in the box to set up a penalty kick.
Taking Vela’s usual role from the spot, French forward Denis Bouanga staked LAFC to a lead it would not relinquish when he smashed his shot down the middle to beat Revolution goalie Djordje Petrovic.
The goal was the first New England conceded in 193 minutes of MLS play this year after taking a pair of shutout wins.
LAFC held onto the slim edge for the first hour until Bouanga tacked on his fifth consecutive goal.
In the 68th minute, after Cerundolo called on his resting players to see out the match, Cifuentes placed a perfect long ball over the top of the defense that freed Bouanga in the box to knock the ball past Petrovic.
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With the game winding down Tillman put it well out of reach when he snatched the ball outside the New England box following a wayward touch from beloved former LAFC midfielder Latif Blessing, who received his MLS championship ring in a pregame ceremony following a trade with New England in January.
Tillman pummelled the ball into the net with his left foot.
“It’s just all about experiences,” the talented midfielder said before the match. “I’m really enjoying being on trips with the guys, getting to know one another so it’s nice.”
Biuk capped off a strong effort with his first goal in stoppage time when Cifuentes and Bouanga combined to free the Croatian at the far post.
LAFC returns to BMO Stadium on March 15 for the second leg of CONCACAF Champions League competition against Costa Rican champions Alajuelense.