When Olivier Giroud won the US Open Cup with LAFC this week, he tried his hand at another sport.
The striker, who used to play for Chelsea and Arsenal, helped lead the Los Angeles club to a 3-1 win over Sporting KC in the final of the oldest game still going in the USA.
Giroud scored the first goal of the game to win his first trophy since signing with the Black and Gold as a free agent this summer. He did it while playing with Hugo Lloris of LAFC.
The 37-year-old, who was with AC Milan before moving to the MLS, scored two goals in extra time to help LAFC win the game. Omar Campos and Kei Kamara also scored for LAFC.
But after winning a prize on the pitch, Giroud tried his hand at pitching instead.
The man from France went to Dodger Stadium to play baseball with the LA Dodgers.
In the Dodgers’ 7-2 win over the San Diego Padres, Giroud threw out the first pitch while carrying the US Open Cup trophy. He has played for France 137 times.
The star forward threw the symbolic ball well, showing that he can do things with his feet or his hands.
Giroud left AC Milan to play for LAFC, and he can feel good about his choice now that he’s explained why he did it: he’s reached his goal.
“It is different when you have to play in a final,” he said after winning the US Open Cup. You should do it. The team has done a great job.
“I came here to play finals and win trophies.”
Hugo Lloris, another former Premier League star who made four saves in the game, talked about how the trophy can give the team a boost going into the last few games of the MLS season.
No changes were made to the sentence. It’s important for the club, and we celebrated with the fans because they also earned it.
“It makes us feel better for the end of the season.”
LAFC is currently in fourth place in the MLS Western Conference, and it looks like they will make it to the playoff Final Series.
From their start in 2018 to now, the Los Angeles club has won four awards.
Giroud and Lloris are just two of many former Premier League stars who have played in the MLS since it began. Gareth Bale and Carlos Vela are two better known.