World Cup winners Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris won their first trophy with LAFC on Wednesday as the MLS club beat Sporting Kansas City after extra time in the 2024 US Open Cup final.
Former Chelsea, Arsenal and Milan striker Giroud tapped in Mateusz Bogusz’s cross to give his new team a 53rd-minute lead in front of a sell-out crowd of more than 22,000 at Los Angeles’ BMO Stadium, but Erik Thommy struck to draw KC level seven minutes later.
Mexico left-back Omar Campos fired LAFC back in front in the 12th minute of extra time before 40-year-old former Sierra Leone forward Kei Kamara headed the final goal of their 3-1 win in the 109th minute.
MLS legend Kamara was mobbed by fans at the full-time whistle as LAFC ended a run of four successive defeats in finals.
Big moment, big player 😤
Olivier Giroud is there to give us the lead.#LAFCvSKC 1-0 pic.twitter.com/NgHaDgJKgl
— LAFC (@LAFC) September 26, 2024
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LAFC vs Sporting KC
LAFC lost 3-1 to Columbus Crew in the Leagues Cup final on August 26, when Giroud also scored but their opponents hit back twice during second-half added time to seal victory.
They entered their latest final on a five-game winless run, last triumphing in the MLS more than two months ago.
🗣️ HEY! HEY! HEY! pic.twitter.com/Ip9QnfgjLS
— LAFC (@LAFC) September 26, 2024
“I came here to win trophies and to play in these kinds of finals,” 37-year-old Giroud told Apple TV on the pitch afterwards.
“I was really sad for the team regarding the Leagues Cup – I really wanted to make it my first.
¡CAMPEONES! 🍻🍻 pic.twitter.com/CiZqm1uTfs
— LAFC (@LAFC) September 26, 2024
“We’ve been on a difficult run in recent weeks but we stick together and we really wanted to win this trophy for these amazing fans and the club.
“These kinds of moments, when you see a team stick together and win these finals – it does matter and counts a lot for me and the boys. I’m so happy to score.”
Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris celebrate their first trophy with LAFC 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/gG7yfjRK9x
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 26, 2024
Giroud goals
Summer signing Giroud is yet to score in five MLS appearances, with his goal against Columbus the only previous time he has found the net for LAFC.
Goalkeeper Lloris agreed to join the club in 2023 after 12 years at Premier League side Tottenham and has kept 15 clean sheets in 43 matches in 2024.
