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LAFC ends four-game losing streak in title games with 3-1 victory over Sporting KC in 2024 U.S. Open Cup Final – NBC Los Angeles

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LAFC ends four-game losing streak in title games with 3-1 victory over Sporting KC in 2024 U.S. Open Cup Final – NBC Los Angeles


It took nearly two years, but the Los Angeles Football Club has finally won another title.

Since hoisting the MLS Cup trophy in 2022, LAFC has finished as the runner-up in four consecutive championship games, including the 2023 MLS Cup in Colombus, Ohio last December.

Playing in their fifth final in the last two years, LAFC snapped their four-game losing streak in title games with a 3-1 victory in extra time over Sporting Kansas City in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup Final at BMO Stadium on Wednesday night.

For LAFC, it was a sense of unfinished business after falling in four straight finals including two already this season.

“We’ve have an amazing group here. We’ve gotten to the finals a few times now and it’s important to reward ourselves,” said LAFC defender Aaron Long, who wore the Captain’s armband for the match. “The group right now is hungry. To taste these finals many times in a row now and to get this close, we’re all just really happy. We’re happy to give back to the fans. They’ve been suffering a lot.”

Sporting KC was seeking to become the only MLS team in history to win five U.S. Open Cup titles.

The final was a battle between two teams headed in opposite directions over the last month.

Sporting KC is currently on the outside looking in of the MLS Cup Playoffs, but are 3-1-2 over their last six matches for a total of 10 points.

Meanwhile, LAFC, a powerhouse atop the Western Conference all season long, has won just once since Aug. 22, a 1-0 victory against the Seattle Sounders in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal.

Led by their new superstar Olivier Giroud, LAFC made sure they would not finish second in another tournament.

Giroud scored his second goal for LAFC–both in finals–to help lead the team to victory.

“When you play in a final, you just have to go for it,” said Giroud after the victory celebration. “I’m really proud of this team. We celebrated with the fans like a family. This was a little boost for the end of the season.”

Waves of black and gold jerseys flooded onto the field to rejoice at the blowing of the final whistle, marking the second title in LAFC’s young history.

Donned in U.S. Open Cup Champions hats, shirts, and scarves, the players poured onto the field to celebrate with their families, including LAFC legend Carlos Vela, who just re-signed with the team last week and has yet to step foot onto the pitch this season.

Kei Kamara, the oldest current player in the league, who grew up in Los Angeles, embraced his wife in front of the LAFC supporters section the 3252.

“This moment here for me to come home and be in LA, and be part of this young rich history of this club is awesome, and tonight was a special night,” said Kamara, who also won the U.S. Open Cup with Kansas City in 2012.

LAFC’s captain for most of the 2024 campaign, Ilie Sanchez, grabbed Vela, the team’s longtime captain, to help him hoist the trophy as fireworks erupted overhead.

Later, the trophy was passed to Giroud and Lloris, two players who traveled nearly 6,000 miles from Paris to Los Angeles, to help LAFC lift another trophy.

Sporting Kansas City v Los Angeles Football Club: 2024 U.S. Open Cup Championship

Oliver Giroud #9 and Hugo Lloris #1 of Los Angeles FC celebrate win over Sporting Kansas City in the finals of the 2024 Lamar Hunt U. S. Open Cup at BMO Stadium on September 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

“We’re on the same page. We just try to bring our experience, leadership, and calmness,” said Giroud and Lloris, longtime friends and teammates with the French national team that won the World Cup in 2018. “Especially when you’re trying to win a trophy. This team has a lot of quality.”

Los Angeles is nicknamed Championship City, or “TitleTown, USA.” In a stadium that is a few miles away from the Lakers, Dodgers, and Kings, it was only fitting that LAFC lifted another trophy en route to what hopefully is just one among many more to come for the newer club.

The mental toll of losing in four consecutive championship games can be daunting. It can affect one’s confidence, not to mention lay seed to doubt that can grow like weeds inside the mind. Just ask the Buffalo Bills of the mid-1990s.

Wednesday’s victory represented a new chapter for the budding franchise decked in black and gold in downtown LA. It ended those seeds of doubt locked inside the labyrinth of the mind and revitalized a team that still has an opportunity to reach their third consecutive MLS Cup Final later this year.

“This will only make us stronger down the stretch of the season. I’m convinced of that,” said LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo.

One thing is for certain, Wednesday’s trophy was a reward for their patience, suffering, and disappointment over the last 500 days.

“I thought I would feel a big sense of relief,” continued Cherundolo. “But right now, all I feel is joy.”

Both teams had their opportunities in the first half, as goalkeepers Hugo Lloris for LAFC and Tim Melia for SKC, had their skills on full display.

Giroud opened the scoring in the 53rd minute. Mateusz Bogusz received a through ball from Sergi Palencia on the right side of the box, and his cross found the foot of the legendary French striker for the 1-0 lead.

However, the lead would be short-lived. 

Less than ten minutes later, Kansas City leveled the score on Erik Thommy’s right-footed flick from the back of the box to the upper-left corner of the net inside the near post.

The back-and-forth battle continued with the underdogs nearly netting the go-ahead goal in the 74th minute off a set piece, but once again Lloris was able to make a critical save.  He made another in the 92nd minute.

Defender Omar Campos, who entered the game in the 67th minute, raced into the far left corner of the box and slotted a shot into the far post for the game-winning goal in the 102nd minute.

Sporting KC ratcheted up the pressure over the next ten minutes, but got caught on the counter by former teammate, and current LAFC Super Sub, Kei Kamara.

Kamara buried a header in front of the net in the 110th minute for an insurance goal that put the game to bed as LAFC held on until the final whistle to lift their first U.S. Open Cup trophy in team history, ending their streak of four consecutive finals losses.

“We want to win every game we play in, it just doesn’t work out like that sometimes. These guys have never won the US Open Cup trophy before, and now they can say they’ve won it,” said Kamara. “To be able to celebrate with my family and bring them into the locker room with me. That’s special. That’s what I wanted. That’s a good feeling.”





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Man killed in LA Metro bus hijacking was going home from work at Dodger Stadium – NBC Los Angeles

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September 27, 2024

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Man killed in LA Metro bus hijacking was going home from work at Dodger Stadium – NBC Los Angeles


The mother and family of the man murdered during the hijacking of an LA Metro bus told NBC4’s I-Team they’re devastated by his death and want to make sure no one else using public transit becomes the victim of violence.

“I just want justice for my boy,” said Teresa Flores, the mother of 48-year-old Anthony Rivera, who died early Wednesday after he was shot during the bus takeover, pursuit, and standoff.

Flores said her son, who was riding the Metro bus to commute home, was a generous person who often put others’ needs ahead of his own.“Very friendly, very giving,” she said. 

“If he had his last dollar he would give it to you.”

She said police told the family Rivera had offered his property to the gunman who’d hijacked the bus.

“’Whatever you want, I have it here,’” Flores said, “and the man just turned around and shot him.”

The family said Rivera had served in the California National Guard and was working as a parking attendant at Dodger Stadium.

“He doesn’t make enough money to support a vehicle to get back and forth, he hasn’t for a while,” Rivera’s cousin Sarah Beck said.

“He was just doing everything he can to not have to rely on people giving him rides here and there.”

She said it’s unacceptable that people like Rivera, who depend on public transit, are so vulnerable to violence.

“We need change, and we understand that bus drivers need safety, we understand that, and thank goodness that they have that safety in place, but what about the passengers?,” she asked.

The LAPD said Rivera was fatally wounded during the ordeal and died at a hospital after SWAT officers stormed the bus and arrested the hijacker.

Police said 51-year-old Lamont A. Campbell was booked on suspicion of murder and was being held in jail without bail.

Campbell was expected to make an initial court appearance Monday.



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Shohei Ohtani launches 54th homer, steals 57th base as NL West-champion Dodgers power by Rockies 11-4 – NBC Los Angeles

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September 27, 2024

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Shohei Ohtani launches 54th homer, steals 57th base as NL West-champion Dodgers power by Rockies 11-4 – NBC Los Angeles


Shohei Ohtani hit his 54th homer of the season, a towering three-run shot, after stealing his 57th base earlier in the game and the NL West-champion Los Angeles Dodgers powered past the Colorado Rockies 11-4 on Friday night.

The Dodgers designated hitter finished 4 of 5, which also included a pair of singles and a double, and drove in four runs. He now has 24 hits over his last 34 at-bats.

Ohtani is making a serious charge at a Triple Crown, leading the NL in homers (54) and RBIs (130). He raised his average to .309 to trail only Luis Arráez (.312 entering Friday) in the batting title race.

With his swipe of second base in the second inning, Ohtani passed Ichiro Suzuki for the most stolen bases in a single season by a Japanese-born player. Ohtani was wearing spikes featuring a picture of his dog, Decoy.

Ohtani’s three-run blast in the sixth inning landed in the second deck at Coors Field. It was a no-doubter at the crack of the bat, with the sellout crowd instantly erupting, an early show before the fireworks display that awaited after the game.

His 408 total bases this season are second-most in franchise history. Babe Herman set the record of 416 in 1930.

Teoscar Hernández got things started for Los Angeles with a two-run homer in the first.

Andy Pages also homered for the Dodgers, who arrived in town fresh off clinching their third straight division title Thursday. The Dodgers moved two games up on the Philadelphia Phillies for the top seed in the NL.

Ben Casparius (2-0) picked up the win for Los Angeles, going 4 1/3 innings, in a game where the Dodgers started reliever Ryan Brasier.

Cal Quantrill (8-11) struggled against the Dodgers’ potent lineup, allowing six runs and two homers over 3 1/3 innings.

The Rockies have now dropped 99 games this season. At 61-99, they need to win their final two games to avoid back-to-back 100-loss seasons.

It was a fortunate coincidence the second-base bag needed to be replaced as Charlie Blackmon stepped up to the plate in the first inning. The switch allowed his walk-up song “Your Love” by The Outfield to play a little bit longer. The designated hitter/outfielder known for his bushy beard announced Monday he’s retiring after 14 seasons — all with the Rockies.

The organization will honor him before Sunday’s season finale. Blackmon had a single and two walks Friday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: 1B Freddie Freeman didn’t make the trip to Colorado so he could rest a sore ankle. Freeman was on crutches and in a walking boot after leaving Thursday’s game. The Dodgers also left SS Miguel Rojas at home due to a torn adductor.

UP NEXT

The Dodgers will send righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-2, 2.96 ERA) to the mound Saturday night. The Rockies counter with righty Antonio Senzatela (0-0, 3.38).





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South LA community advocates for improvements at Wetlands Park – NBC Los Angeles

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1 day ago

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September 27, 2024

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South LA community advocates for improvements at Wetlands Park – NBC Los Angeles


Safety and sanitation improvements are headed to a popular park in South LA after community members say they have been asking city leaders to make needed changes.

The South LA Wetlands Park is north of Slauson Avenue between San Pedro Street and Avalon Boulevard, just east of the 110 Freeway.

More than 500 people signed a petition circulating online asking officials to install proper restrooms at the park, enhance security measures and improve the quality of the water of the wetlands for the animals.

Victor Vasquez, who organized the petition, said the park has been neglected for many years.

“When it opened, it was a new green space in the inner city, something that’s rare to come by,” said Vasquez.

Adriana Cabrera, the president of the Central Alameda Neighborhood Council, wrote a letter to Mayor Karen Bass’ office as well.

“A lot of us struggle with health problems because we don’t have access to green spaces,” said Cabrera. ” We don’t even have safe spaces where we can walk our dogs.”

Another big concern for community members is lighting. People were spotted at a local South LA park participating in recreational activities in complete darkness.

There is also a large, abandoned building on the park property. City Councilmember Curren Price’s office says the structure was once a bus yard with “historical significance.” A spokesperson says it is one of the oldest tilt-up buildings in the city and has asbestos inside.

The Office of Councilmember Price and the Department of Recreation and Parks are now being tasked to create a master plan for the wetlands, including the old structure.



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