LAFC 2 vs Sounders 1 – Chiellini & Bale Home Debuts

Los Angeles Football Club took on rivals Seattle Sounders under the great summer night lights at the Banc of California Stadium home of the LAFC, a perfect night for this soccer. The atmosphere was amazing with the sold-out crowd ready to support with their loud and explosive chants.

The match started off with a back and forward at mid-field with no team really showing any dominance. The Seattle Sounders found the back of the net first with their own goal by Columbian defender Jesus Murillo. The game pushes forward and the LAFC gains some momentum over the next segment of the match by having most of the possession. In the 27th-minute captain, Carlos Vela had scored and tied the game but Video Assistant Referee (VAR) took the goal away by referee Joe Dickerson. The LAFC kept pressing looking for that tie and then in the 35th minute of play the Sounders defense had a critical mistake that LAFC took advantage of the play with a power shot from Kwandwo "Mahala" Opoku to the bottom left side of the keeper Stefan Frei finding the back of the net for the equalizer. LAFC kept the press high for the remaining of the first half. In the 43rd minute of play, LAFC found the back of the net with a cross from Jose Cifuentes leaving Vela in front of the penalty mark one on one with the keeper to put it away for the second goal of the night.

The second half of the match was a back-and-forward match with more press from the LAFC. In the 4th part of the match, the Welshman Gareth Bale replaced Cristian Arango to make his home debut in the 72nd minute. It brightened up the Banc of California with cheers and full of hope to see Bale on their home pitch, Bale had a couple of plays, and a couple of great opportunities were created. It was close for Bale but no cigar.

Both of the summer arrivals for LAFC, Gareth Bale and Giorgio Chiellini made their home debuts at Banc of California.