LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris kicks the ball down the field during the second half of the Black & Gold's 2-0 win over Minnesota United FC at BMO Stadium on May 29, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., contributing photographer)

After a two-week international break, the Los Angeles Football Club is back in action and can make MLS history in Orlando on Saturday.

A sixth consecutive league win without conceding a goal would make LAFC the first MLS team to achieve such a sustained streak of defensive excellence, surpassing Atlanta United FC's 2019 team.

At the beginning of last month, such a run would have been far-fetched.

LAFC had 15 points in 11 games and was only able to hold their opponents without points twice during that period.

After 16 games, coach Steve Cherundolo's team now has 30 points (9-4-3) and climbs to second place in the Western Conference, three points behind Real Salt Lake (9-2-6) and has one game less.

A switch wasn't flipped. This didn't come out of the blue.

Rather, after its last loss, a lackluster game against a struggling San Jose team on May 4, LAFC refocused on its positional integrity with and without the ball, which led to consistency throughout the game.

Better individual decisions by the players pushing forward – less risk, more reward – also paid off.

LAFC began the FIFA transfer window with seven consecutive wins in all competitions and secured the most points of any Western Conference team in May.

“The break came and we were obviously in good shape, so a lot of people would say it's a shame it came,” Cherundolo said. “But I think we needed the break too, physically and mentally, and the players look fit. They look hungry. I think the break came at the right time for us.”

While some players left for international duty, the rest of the group trained in LA before resuming full training ahead of a five-day road trip through two cities, Orlando and Austin.

Winger Cristian Olivera, selected for Uruguay's Copa America squad, has not returned, but Denis Bouanga, Omar Campos, Timothy Tillman and Maxime Chanot are available.

Additionally, 18-year-old Venezuelan attacking talent David Martínez is slowly being integrated back into training after some back problems. He hasn't played since late March and has only watched as LAFC got back on track, posting a 7-1-2 record against the league during that time.

Instead of picking up right where they left off, “I don't feel like we're on a high anymore,” center back Aaron Long said. “I feel like that two-week break has restarted everything and there's no momentum now. Those two away games are going to be really tough. If we have a good week and do the things we want to do, we could potentially come out of this week with three games and momentum, and that's the goal.”

Halfway through the regular season, Orlando, the 2023 Supporters' Shield runners-up, suffered seven clean sheets, including three of their last five games.