LAFC defeats Portland in MLS Opener
The defending champions Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) opened the 2023 MLS season with a 3-2 victory over the Portland Timbers at the BMO Stadium home of the LAFC.
In the season opener, the LAFC invited the fans to arrive early for the team's pregame championship celebration prior to the match. The fans witnessed history as the 2022 MLS Cup Championship banner was unveiled and the rings were presented to last season's players.
The LAFC started off strong in the early minutes of play LAFC showcased their attacks with captain Carlos Vela at the right wing. The LAFC pressure was high, on the 22nd minute of play Kellyn Acosta crossed the ball to the box from a corner deflection to find the Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini who scored a right touch at the right time to put the LAFC ahead in the 23 minutes of play. The pressure kept coming from LAFC while on another play inside the box LAFC's forward Kwadwo Opoku was taken down by Portland midfielder Santiago Moreno for a penalty that Carlos Vela made sure to put in the back of the net to put the LAFC ahead 2-0 in the first half.
The second half started off with more excitement from LAFC in the 47th minute Vela took a free kick from outside the box that rattled post the top right corner of the timbers goalie. Shortly after in the 52nd minute, Opoku scored LAFC third goal on a great play and assistance from Vela. Portland decided to show some life and put some pressure of their own in the second half, In the 62nd minute Portland scored from a counterattack starting at LAFC side and Juan Mosquera drove the ball for 3/4 of the pitch and gave a cross to forward Evander da Silva Ferreira to put it past LAFC goalkeeper. In the closing minutes, Portland scored on a bad corner rejection from LAFC keeper John McCarthy that allowed Portland midfielder Christian Paredes to score the second goal.
The LAFC is now 6-0-0 all-time in season openers and 6-0-0 in home openers. the capacity at the BMO Stadium was 22,202.
LAFC will be back in action on Thursday, March 9 when the club travels to Costa Rica for the first leg of its CONCACAF Champions League Round of 16 series against Alajuelense. The club returns to MLS action on Sunday, March 12 when it hosts the New England Revolution.
