LAFC+ | Ep. 41

The 2025 MLS schedule is out and it's time to circle the marquee matches on the calendar. It looks like a jam-packed year of MLS matches, but LAFC's 2025 starts with a massive Concacaf Champions Cup battle vs. Colorado. Dave Denholm and Mario Ruiz look forward to the Black & Gold getting payback on Seattle, a road trip to San Diego, and more thrilling chapters of the Clasico Angelino vs. Galaxy. Plus, the latest around MLS including Bruce Arena taking over in San Jose, Leo Campana heading to New England, and Berhalter taking the head job in Chicago.

Voice of the Black & Gold Max Bretos speaks with LAFC Co-President and General Manager John Thorrington about the highs and lows of the 2024 season before delving into what lies ahead for the team in the off season and a massive 2025 season.

In a special episode of Inside LAFC, Voice of the Black & Gold Max Bretos sits down with LAFC's latest Homegrown signing Jude Terry, who has risen through the development ranks at the club to sign with the first team as a 16-year-old. Terry originally joined the LAFC Academy as a 12-year-old in 2021 and quickly showed his quality as a wide-ranging midfielder. The Chula Vista, CA native has also impressed on the international level with the USA at the U15 and U17 levels. The future is bright for LAFC's newly minted pro!

Voice of the Black & Gold Max Bretos is joined by the always delightful Steve Beitashour to recap LAFC's 2024 season. The pair delve into the loss to Seattle in the Western Conference Semis, run don the team's list of accomplishments this season, including claiming the first Open Cup crown in club history, and examine the incredible success the team continues to have under the guidance of 2024 MLS Sporting Executive of the Year, John Thorrington. Max lists off a handful of important upcoming dates and events for the offseason including the Concacaf Champions Cup Draw (Dec. 10), Expansion Draft (Dec. 11), SuperDraft (Dec. 20), and 2025 Season Schedule Release (week of Dec. 16) before the fellas sign off for 2024. In the second half of the show, all-action SoCal News Group sports correspondent Josh Gross joins Max to discuss the state of soccer coverage in the sports media as well as what it's like covering the club as an LA native. The guys put the season in context and look forward to what the offseason and 2025 campaign will bring.

LAFC pierde ante Seattle y no podrá llegar a su tercera final de manera consecutiva. Cherundolo: Creo que la pausa internacional nos afectó, pero no es excusa y Seattle ganó bien. A. Long: Asi son los juegos de playoffs, juegan al 110% y nos toco perder. R. Hollinshead: No supimos aprovechar nuestras oportunidades de gol. Despues de jugar 50 partidos dentro de todas las competencias, LAFC tuvo un año excelente al jugar dos finales y estar hasta semifinales en todas las competencias. Hasta el proximo torneo amigos. ¡Viva Black & Gold!

Tough way to go out. LAFC's Playoff run was cut short at BMO Stadium by the Sounders, Dave Denholm and Mario Ruiz discuss. No choice but to turn the page as 2025 is right around the corner beginning with Concacaf Champions Cup in February. Only four teams remain in the MLS Cup Playoffs as the Conference Finals are set.

Voice of LAFC Max Bretos and co-host Steve Beitashour kick things off with a discussion of the team's preparation coming off the international break ahead of the Conference Semifinals against the Seattle Sounders this Saturday at BMO Stadium. The fellas delve into LAFC's history against the Sounders before working through the keys to the match. They cap things off by discussing the success LAFC player's had with their national teams over the past two weeks. In the second half of the show, midfielder Lewis O'Brien joins Max to discuss his recruitment to LAFC and settling in with the squad. He also speaks about enjoying life in Los Angeles as well as winning the first trophy of his career with the Black & Gold, which led to a memorable spur-of-the-moment celebration. Finally he drops some knowledge about the Sounders and Saturday's big showdown!

LAFC+ turns 40! Dave Denholm and Mario Ruiz enjoyed a weekend off from MLS but are ready to return to MLS Playoff Action this weekend in the Conference Semis. LAFC have been dominant against the Sounders, can they do it again? Dave and Mario try to figure out the Eastern Conference as the top three teams have taken an early exit. Plus, was the Inter Miami season a failure?

Voice of the Black & Gold Max Bretos and co-host Steve Beitashour get right into the action by recapping a victorious Game 3 against Vancouver that once again saw Mati Bogusz rise to the moment to score the match- and series-winning goal. The win sets LAFC up for a Western Conference Semifinal showdown against another familiar Cascadian opponent in the Seattle Sounders. That momentous match is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 23 at BMO Stadium. The fellas take a step back to look at the larger playoff picture across the league and how some chaotic results in the Eastern half of the bracket have redounded to LAFC's benefit should the team reach a record-tying third straight MLS Cup Final. Finally Max and Beita discuss the handful of LAFC players who have joined up with their nations for the international break and the benefits and concerns that brings for the Black & Gold. In the second half of the show, former player turned soccer pundit for ESPN Herculez Gomez joins the show to chop it about about everything from the status of El Traffico and player development work being done around MLS to the amazing career of Kei Kamara and what's going on with the USA and Mexico in the Concacaf Nations League.

LAFC logra una victoria bastante sufrida ante un equipo de Vancouver que solo mostró que saben destruir un ataque del rival, pero que no pudieron crear jugadas de gol. Uno por cero fue el marcador final, con anotación de Bogusz y con eso avanzaron a la semifinal de la conferencia del Oeste por tercer año consecutivo. Primer equipo que lo logre en la historia de la MLS. Comenta: STEVE CHERUNDOLO "Sé que en el papel es 1 contra 8 en lo que respecta a los preclasificados, pero ciertamente es mucho, mucho más reñido que eso." AARON LONG "Esta plantilla se armó con muchos líderes y jugadores que pueden dar un paso al frente en los momentos importantes." MATEUSZ BOGUSZ “Estoy muy contento con mi gol. Fue mi primero en los playoffs, porque la temporada pasada no marqué, pero la parte más importante es que avanzamos a la siguiente ronda."