“New Mexico is quite a complete squad,” said Cherundolo, a former USMNT playing legend who knows all the challenges and charms of the Division II USL Championship from his time coaching in the league. “The physicality is definitely there, and they have the discipline and the ability to threaten an opponent so that goal was no surprise.”
The next 20 minutes were a flurry before Bogusz lifted the home crowd with a decisive 40-yard dribble through the heart of the New Mexico United defense.
Stopping sharply to the left of the penalty arc, Bogusz shifted his body weight, put the ball back on to his right foot and sent a curler into the right side netting in the 77th minute to seal the win. It was LAFC's third consecutive victory over a USL Championship side in this tournament.
Cherundolo Knows D2
“I have some USL experience and all three teams we’ve faced [Las Vegas Lights FC, Loudoun United FC and New Mexico United] have their strengths,” LAFC’s current coach said. “If we beat Seattle Sounders in the Semifinals then maybe in the Final we'll play another USL team with Indy Eleven [who shocked MLS side Atlanta United in the other Semifinal].”
Cherundolo, who coached in the USL Championship with Las Vegas Lights FC before taking the LAFC job, took a sharp breath before finally addressing the U.S. Men's National Team speculation in full.
“I think it wouldn't be the right time to speak about other things [other than LAFC],” he began. “I'm the LAFC coach and I'm very proud to be LAFC's coach and we have something really good going here and we're excited to be in the Semifinals.
“I understand the question but I'm going to talk about LAFC,” he insisted about his side, who are two wins away from lifting American soccer’s oldest prize for the first time. “I am LAFC's coach right now and that is my job and what I do every single day.”
In the end, “Our objective is to advance, and we did that tonight so it's a job well done,” Cherundolo concluded. “Mission accomplished, I guess you could say.”
Dennis Pope writes about local sports for the SoCal Newspaper Group and serves in a communications role for both NISA Nation and the Southwest Premier League. Follow him at@DennisPope on X/Twitter.
