Olivier Giroud, ‘big bro’ Kei Kamara sharing the load for LAFC
If Kei Kamara had his way, the veteran striker would partner with Olivier Giroud and spearhead the Los Angeles Football Club’s attack as a duet on a regular basis.
“Don’t tell [Coach] Steve [Cherundolo] I said that,” Kamara joked last week after LAFC captured its first U.S. Open Cup championship thanks in part to goals from both center forwards.
Kamara’s desire comes despite Cherundolo trying it once with an unusual lineup on Sept. 7, a scoreless tie in Houston.
Giroud played 90 minutes while Kamara was subbed off after the 1-hour mark. Without LAFC’s dynamic wingers, all of whom were away on international duty at the time, Giroud acknowledged there was a lack of pace and explosion on the field.
This is why Kamara playing up top with France’s all-time leading goal scorer for extended periods of time seems less than likely as the season comes to a close.
“The ‘9’ at LAFC needs to be productive and both are and that’s important,” Cherundolo said.
LAFC’s head coach is more interested in having two attackers with a combined age of 78 share the load.
Accustomed to serving the role of the elder statesman inside a locker room, Giroud has taken to calling Kamara “my big bro” and said they have a good understanding on and off the field.
Kamara’s 40th birthday was on Sept. 1, making him the first MLS player his age in the league since 2010. Giroud’s 38th came on Monday, the last day of the month, shortly after a fantastic team effort in Cincinnati where both men recorded assists in a 2-1 win to help LAFC (15-8-7, 52 points) secure its sixth playoff spot in seven years.
“We have a bit of the same characteristics,” Giroud said. “And it’s really impressive that he still can play at 40. He’s very generous on the pitch. He’s doing the job. He’s a team player, a bit like myself.”
Though Kamara and Giroud combined for two goals and two assists in September, both played in each of the club’s six matches and look like they’re finding rhythm as the season moves to fall.
Seeking a strong push to close the regular season, LAFC’s schedule should suit its ends. Three of the team’s last four games come against opponents that are eliminated from playoff contention in the Western Conference, beginning with St. Louis City SC (7-11-13, 34 points) on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium.
Since arriving in L.A. at the beginning of August, Giroud has worked to get in shape in the midst of critical matches for his new team. He’s been impressed with the intensity of the league, and Kamara did what he could to make Giroud’s integration as smooth as possible, including sharing information about MLS and ramping up the competitive vibes in practice.
“I need someone also to push me and to get the best of yourself is always nice,” Giroud said. “Good, nice competition. I appreciate the person and the player and I think he’s also really important for us.”
Thus far, one striker has generally picked up where the other left off, which was the case as they took turns scoring and rooting from the bench in the Open Cup final.
Giroud started and Kamara ran onto the field to celebrate when the French star put LAFC ahead 1-0 early in the second half. Kamara found himself hoping Giroud would find the back of the net “because I know how tough it is” to score, said the second-leading goal man in MLS history.
“If we can get on a roll,” Kamara added, “it’s gonna help the rest of the team.”
ST. LOUIS CITY SC AT LAFC
When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: BMO Stadium
TV/Radio: Apple TV+ – MLS Season Pass/710 AM, 980 AM