LAFC's Schedule Is a "Scandal" and San Diego Can't Stop Losing Either

Los Angeles FC coach Marc Dos Santos isn't mincing words about the MLS schedule machine, and you can't blame him. LAFC just beat Toluca 2-1 in a Champions Cup semifinal on Wednesday night, and now they're supposed to show up in San Diego on Saturday to face a rival that got a full week to prepare. That's not a fair fight, and Dos Santos is furious about it.

The Schedule Is Breaking LAFC

This isn't just about one weekend. Dos Santos has been stewing about the fixture list since late March, and the numbers back his frustration. LAFC played eight matches in April between MLS and Champions Cup action. Now they've got five more games packed into the first 17 days of May. It's relentless.

"The schedule is a scandal. It's a scandal," Dos Santos told reporters. "I don't understand why MLS ... who is the genius in the meeting that says, 'I have a good idea?' At some point, it's enough. Saturday we have to go to San Diego."

Here's the kicker: despite this brutal schedule, LAFC (6-2-2, 20 points) are absolutely dominating. They've outscored MLS opponents 17-6 and their Champions Cup competition 16-5. They're 5-0-2 in Champions Cup play heading into the second semifinal leg against Toluca on May 6. Star forward Denis Bouanga is back from a yellow-card suspension and has already posted four goals and four assists in league play.

San Diego Is in Free Fall

San Diego FC's fairy tale has turned into a nightmare. Last season, the expansion team went 2-0 against LAFC on the way to winning the Western Conference. This season? They're sitting in 11th place at 3-5-2 with 11 points, and they're falling fast.

The Reds have lost five straight matches and are winless in their last seven MLS games (0-5-2). Eight straight losses when you include their Champions Cup exit to Toluca in the Round of 16. Last weekend, they lost 2-1 at home to Portland when the Timbers scored the winner in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time.

Even star forward Anders Dreyer, who has five goals and four assists in MLS play, knows how bad things have gotten. "It's been a tough period for San Diego FC, five losses in a row," he said. "It's not what we wanted, but that's the reality. That's how it is and we can't run from that."

Coach Mikey Varas is hoping Saturday becomes the turnaround moment. "It's a tremendous opportunity for us to take the next step and get back on track," Varas said. "We know we're in a tough moment and haven't been at our best. But we're working very hard and doing everything possible to get back to it."

This matchup has everything: an exhausted LAFC team with world-class talent facing a San Diego team desperate to break a streak. Saturday night is going to tell us a lot about how much that schedule actually matters.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.