A new season of MLS got underway in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon with some usual ingredients: joy of the fans, Los Angeles sun, Hollywood celebrities as witnesses and, above all, another victory for LAFC.
The current two-time Western Conference champion, LAFC beat the Seattle Sounders 2-1 to reach seven consecutive years – its entire history – with a victory in the opening gamean impressive Major League Soccer record.
The only thing that was different for LAFC in its opening game was the absence of the franchise’s most outstanding player, Carlos Vela, who remains a free agent.
The Mexican star, who has rejected alleged offers from Liga MX clubs, was obviously not at BMO Stadium, but The one who did take to the field was the French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, the main signing of the black and gold club..
And just in the third minute of the game, the former world champion with France in 2018 made his first saving save after Jordan Morris’ free shot.
Lloris opened accompanied by defenders Hollingshead, Murillo, Long and Campos; the midfielders Tillman, Sánchez and Atuesta, who is back in the team, and the forwards Olivera, Bogusz and Bouanga, a lineup with seven nationalities. Their three stars appeared in Seattle: Roldán, Ruidíaz and Morris.
Nathan, Sounders defender, prevented the home team’s first goal in the 17th minute when he blocked the shot of Dennis Bouanga near the line, who had outwitted the goalkeeper after a great pass from Ilie Sánchez
It was Timothy Tillman who opened the scoring in the 45th minute by volleying a great cross from Mexican full-back Omar Campos, another debutant in LAFC after arriving from Santos Laguna.
At 55 minutes it was 2-0 and it was a great goal from the Polish Mateusz Bogusz, who received a pass on the outskirts of the area, cut back and shot right into the corner to beat goalkeeper Thomas. Celebrities such as actors Edward Norton, Jason Sudeikis and of course Will Ferrell, as well as Rams star Puka Nacua, celebrated the great goal,
Seattle got closer to the 73rd minute with a penalty scored by Argentine Pedro de la Vega after the VAR intervened to call a foul in the area by Aaron Long that initially missed the referee
News in development.