Among the positive messages Ilie Sanchez received after a disappointing Leagues Cup final in Columbus was one from his very good friend, Carlos Vela.
“He actually texted me yesterday to see how I was doing after the game,” Sanchez said Tuesday from Seattle. “I really appreciate someone like him reaching out and still showing that he cares about me and about the group.”
How is Sanchez a couple of days after Cucho Hernandez beat him to the spot for the game’s opening goal in a 3-1 victory for the Crew?
“Not great,” he said. “All I can tell you is how I feel and obviously it’s not ideal. But it’s part of the journey. We have been here before. Yeah, it hurts. We know what we need to do. It’s very clear. Forget as soon as possible and focus on the next game that we have in front of us. It’s easy to say but hard to actually do it.”
Vela can commiserate about coming up short against the Crew because they beat LAFC with the Mexican star in Ohio last year to claim the MLS Cup. But he can’t do more to help them than that. The December final was the last match Vela suited up for following six strong seasons as the leader and face of LAFC.
While Sanchez continues to play an integral role in the team’s success, which thanks to the Leagues Cup includes a spot in next year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup, Vela has enjoyed a leisurely free agency with his family that he often shares with 1.7 million followers on Instagram.
The two first played together when Sanchez joined LAFC before the 2022 season and were part of the deep group who lifted the organization’s lone league title before fighting for but ultimately coming up empty during six competitions last year.
Unlike the MLS Cup defeat, there’s no offseason to dull the pain after Sunday.
Instead, Sanchez and his 2024 teammates have an immediate opportunity to come up big, move on and let go of the unpleasant sensation the 33-year-old Spanish midfielder still had prior to an afternoon practice at the 4,500-seat Starfire Sports Complex, the site of Wednesday night’s U.S. Open Cup semifinal against the Seattle Sounders.
“Raising a trophy is always great. It didn’t happen and we move on. It’s that simple,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said shortly after his team conceded late twice as a penalty kick shootout loomed. “We have an important match Wednesday night in Seattle in the Open Cup and we’d love to host the final at BMO. That’s our objective now. There’s no time really to think too much about this. It was a fun experience. Fun tournament for us. But it’s over. You won’t hear me speak another word about it after we’re done here.”
Sanchez, slow to let defeats go, expected the outcome to get discussed at practice. One way or another, everyone is aware that turning the page and reaching LAFC’s first U.S. Open Cup final, at home next month to boot, would help shoo away the Columbus blues.
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To do so, LAFC (22-6-6 in all competitions) moves from one top opponent it can’t figure out to another it has dominated since 2021.
Unbeaten in the last nine (7-0-2) meetings against the Sounders, Cherundolo’s team has won all three matches this year by a combined score of 8-1, including a pair of 3-0 results on the road.
“We have to trust ourselves and trust what we’ve been doing the whole season,” Sanchez said.
LAFC AT SEATTLE SOUNDERS
When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Starfire Sports Complex, Tukwila, Wash.
TV/Radio: Apple TV+ – Free/710 AM, 980 AM
