Steve Cherundolo is excited to see his hometown of San Diego represented in MLS and remains cautious of a potential rivalry between them and Los Angeles FC.

LAFC had endured a three-match losing run in all competitions, including two consecutive defeats in MLS, but put that behind them with a 2-0 win over Sporting Kansas City last weekend.

The victory saw them move up to third in the Western Conference, above Saturday's opponents, as they look to register back-to-back wins for the first time in the league this term.

Cherundolo is delighted to be returning to San Diego as a coach but believes it will take more than just one game to develop a rivalry.

"It was really exciting [to see San Diego join MLS]. I was really excited and happy for the city," he told LAFC's website.

"It [a rivalry] takes time for sure. It depends on results — not just against each other but also within the league. How well does San Diego do? Is their success sustainable?

"Rivalries need time to grow and intensify, but they can get off to a good start. It also depends on how emotional matches are. It kind of hinges on how the first couple of games unfold, and then you go from there."

San Diego have made an impressive start to life in MLS, sitting fourth in the table, having lost just one match so far.

That defeat came in their last outing – a 2-1 defeat to Austin FC – which ended their unbeaten start.

Despite suffering their first loss, head coach Mikey Varas remained positive, looking at the lessons they can learn from it.

"The thing that I'm proud about is we had a lot of guys, young guys, step in," Varas said. "We were still us right, true to our style of play, playing with initiative. 

"We do have to take a reflection, last couple games, slower starts and how we can start faster games.

"The lessons learned are the same things that we've been thinking all season."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

San Diego FC – Christopher McVey

San Diego have impressed in possession this season, enjoying an average of 60.5% and a passing accuracy of 88.3%.

Against Austin last weekend, Christopher McVey completed 119 of his 123 passes (96.7%), while he also boasted a 92.3% passing accuracy in the final third (from 13 passes).

Los Angeles FC – Aaron Long

Aaron Long scored his 14th career regular-season MLS goal in Los Angeles FC's win over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday.

The only defenders with more goals since Long joined MLS in 2017 are current team-mate Ryan Hollingshead (26) and former LAFC player Walker Zimmerman (19).

MATCH PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES FC WIN

Los Angeles FC have never lost to an expansion team in regular-season play, recording seven wins and a draw in eight previous matches, outscoring opponents by a combined score of 17-1. The lone draw was in LAFC's last match against an expansion team (0-0 at St. Louis City in September 2023).

They have won nine of their last 14 regular-season away matches (D2 L3) dating back to mid-May. In that time, LAFC allowed 12 goals in the three defeats while conceding just five times in the other 11 away matches.

Each of San Diego's first two home MLS matches have ended in draws. The only expansion team in MLS history to go winless through their first three home matches was Orlando City in 2015 (first five).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

San Diego FC – 30.8%

Draw – 25.1%

Los Angeles FC – 44.1%