If getting in games ahead of a huge match is helpful, the Los Angeles Football Club has at least one apparent edge on Leon heading into the CONCACAF Champions League final.

Losing in the qualifying round of the Clausura Liga MX last stage on Sunday, Leon won't have another competitive match up until LAFC visits Mexico on May 31.

As long as his group can prevent injury, LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo chooses playing to waiting and will have his fill.

Prior to concentrating on the continental reward with a week to prepare, the group has 3 Major League Soccer video games and a well-earned U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 fight versus the Galaxy on May 23 at BMO Stadium.

Coming off of their first league setback last weekend against San Jose in front of 45,112 fans at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Cherundolo offered starters and routine contributors a break on Tuesday night when attention shifted to a U.S. Open Cup match against USL's Monterey Bay FC.

Overwatched by 38-year-old goalkeeper "Uncle" Eldin Jakupovic, 8 teens and other potential customers celebrated like the kids some of them are following an extreme 120 minutes and 6 rounds of penalty kicks.

The result disappointed a number of the 5,808 fans at Cardinale Stadium in Seaside however lifted their teammates back in L.A.

First-choice players seen on television as the club's youth movement pushed back against the congested schedule and provided for the people getting the impact of the minutes.

" It was a remarkable game," said midfielder Kellyn Acosta, who viewed from house. "I'm delighted for the kids for one) getting the opportunity and two) to display well. They played with a lot of self-confidence and it was a mature video game from all of them.

" From our viewpoint and Steve's viewpoint that was a substantial success."

After nine league video games, Acosta is fifth on the team in minutes played (651) behind Ilie Sanchez, Diego Palacios, John McCarthy and Denis Bouanga, who leads LAFC (726 ).

Beginning 8 of the nine matches in which he's appeared, scoring a team-best eight MLS objectives, the French forward is connected atop the Golden Boot race going into the season's 12th week.

With two goals against Real Salt Lake on Saturday night in Utah, Bouanga would become the 6th gamer in league history to complete 10 times in a 10-game stretch.

Four of the previous 5 gamers to do it ended up the season leading the league in objectives. LAFC captain Carlos Vela scored 10 in nine video games en path to a single-season record 34 in 2019.

Bouanga's 14 objectives and six assists integrated in league and Champions League play are the most by any MLS gamer at this point over the past four years, surpassing Vela's 18 goal contributions when he was named the league's Most Valuable Player.

RSL (3-5-2, 11 points) is unbeaten in its past five games however has actually lost 6 straight to LAFC (5-1-3, 18 points) and is 2-11-0 versus them all-time.

Saturday's match precedes home video games with Sporting Kansas City and San Jose for LAFC. No matter how well Bouanga or his teammates play, browsing a trio of games in 8 days might provide the club's emerging talents another possibility to shine in an Open Cup "El Trafico."

" That's Steve's choice to make," Acosta stated. "But I believed, yeah, they had a really excellent game and from my standpoint, if you play well, carry out well you clearly need to get another shot."

LAFC AT REAL SALT LAKE

When: Saturday, 6:30 p.m. PT

Where: America First Field in Sandy, Utah

TV/Radio: Apple TV+-- MLS Season Pass/710 AM, 980 AM