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Los Angeles, CA – On March 1, 2025, Los Angeles FC (LAFC) secured a narrow 1-0 win over New York City FC (NYCFC) at BMO Stadium, with veteran defender Ryan Hollingshead delivering the decisive moment and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris ensuring a clean sheet. The victory keeps LAFC unbeaten in the young 2025 MLS season, underscoring their defensive resolve and ability to capitalize on key opportunities despite not hitting top form.
Hollingshead’s Late Strike Seals the Deal
The game’s turning point came in the 86th minute when Hollingshead, ever the opportunist, found himself in the right place at the right time. After a chaotic sequence in the NYCFC box—where forwards Olivier Giroud and David Martínez drew defenders to the near post—Hollingshead ghosted to the back post unmarked. When the ball spilled loose, he pounced, firing it past NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese to break the deadlock. “I’m always trying to get into the right spaces,” Hollingshead said after the match, reflecting his knack for timing runs into the box. “It’s about picking the right moments without giving up our defensive structure.”
The goal marked a personal milestone for Hollingshead, tying him with Graham Zusi for the most goals by an MLS defender since 2010 (regular season only). “It’s exciting to be in this league as long as I have and still get these chances,” he noted, playfully adding that he’s eager to “put Graham in the rearview” with one more strike.
Lloris and the Back Line Stand Firm
While Hollingshead provided the offensive spark, Hugo Lloris was the backbone of LAFC’s fifth consecutive game without conceding from open play. The former World Cup-winning captain was a wall in goal, calmly organizing his defense and making crucial interventions to thwart NYCFC’s attacks. Facing a Pigeons side that had scored twice in their season opener against Inter Miami, Lloris ensured no repeat, preserving LAFC’s perfect defensive record at home in 2025.
Hollingshead praised the team’s renewed defensive focus, crediting head coach Steve Cherundolo’s influence. “We’re getting back to being a club that doesn’t let goals in,” he said. “Hugo’s leadership back there is massive, and you can see Steve’s eye for defensive shape coming through. If we have to win 1-0, we’re ready to do that—and we’ve proven it.”
Game Notes: A Gritty Performance
LAFC’s performance wasn’t their most fluid, a point Hollingshead acknowledged. “We’re not playing our best football right now,” he admitted. “But to come away with three points and a clean sheet early in the season, especially with a tough schedule, is huge.” The first half saw both teams struggle for rhythm, with NYCFC’s compact defense stifling LAFC’s attack. However, the Black and Gold found more energy after the break, gradually asserting control.
Substitutions played a key role, with Hollingshead entering in the 62nd minute alongside David Martínez and Mark Delgado, followed by Giroud and debutant Artem Smolyakov in the 77th. The fresh legs tilted the game, culminating in Hollingshead’s late heroics. “The second half was better—more energy, more control,” he observed. “You can see the squad has it; we just need to put it together a bit more.”
Building a Championship Identity
The win against NYCFC—a team LAFC had never beaten in MLS play before—highlighted a shift in philosophy. Historically a goal-scoring juggernaut, LAFC is leaning into a grittier, defensively sound identity in 2025. “We’ve scored tons of goals in the past, but that’s not always the recipe for championships,” Hollingshead explained. “Matching our attack with this defensive strength is what we’re aiming for.”
Lloris’s arrival has elevated that ambition. His experience shone through as LAFC weathered NYCFC’s late push, with the keeper’s positioning and vocal presence keeping the back line tight. For Hollingshead, playing alongside such a figure is a privilege. “Hugo brings a level of calm and confidence that’s contagious,” he said. “It’s huge for us.”
Looking Ahead
With the victory, LAFC improves to 2-0-0 in MLS play, one of only a few teams to start the season with back-to-back wins and no goals conceded. Next up, they face the Columbus Crew in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 on March 4, another test of their defensive mettle. Hollingshead remains optimistic: “We’re growing in the right way. The goals will come, but right now, these results are what matter.”
For LAFC fans, Hollingshead’s clutch strike and Lloris’s steadfast guarding of the net signal a team ready to contend once more. As Hollingshead put it, “It’s a huge result—and we’re just getting started.”
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