LAFC celebrate 2022 title, open 2023 with a win

From the end of one season to another for LAFC.

Anticipation was high amongst the LAFC faithful for Saturday’s season opener against the Portland Timbers at the newly-named BMO Stadium. The pregame ceremony was the final chance for LAFC and its fans to reminisce about its memorable 2022 season. The festivities saw the unveiling of the Supporters Shield and the MLS Cup trophy won last year, the LAFC players received their championship rings, the banners honoring the winning of both trophies were unveiled, the 3252 Supporters Section unveiled a tifo with the Image of Carlos Vela and other LAFC players holding the MLS Cup trophy, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass participated in the pregame falcon flight, and Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald presented Rams jerseys to Kellyn Acosta and Aaron Long bearing their names.

“It felt like a good celebration for us after the goals achieved the last year,” said LAFC defender Giorgio Chiellini. “It was a new thing for me. The ring, I was waiting for it. It was very nice and will remain in my memories for all time. It was an important trophy we won last year for everyone. For different reasons, but for everyone was very important to win the league, lift the trophy and celebrate those.”

Then it was on to the business of trying to repeat as champions in 2023, and LAFC looked like they were all business on Saturday afternoon, as they jumped out to a three-goal lead, and while Portland made them sweat it out in the final moments, LAFC nevertheless started its season out on the right foot, holding off the Timbers 3-2 at BMO Stadium.

“We got off to a good start in both halves, but didn’t finish as strongly as we had anticipated,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “Reasons being lack of rhythm, possibly a little bit of lack of fitness to continue playing in the fashion and the manner we played, as well as, putting Portland under pressure while trying to play as high as possible. All very normal in the first game of the season, so nothing alarming.”

LAFC played from the onset as if its magical season never ended. LAFC got on the board in the 24th minute, as a Kellyn Acosta corner was cleared out of the box, Ilie Sanchez recovered for LAFC, passed a ball back to Acosta, who then sent a ball back into the penalty area, the ball took a few deflections before finding the foot of Chiellini, and he shot a ball inside the six-yard box past keeper David Bingham into the back net.

LAFC got goal number two almost in the same scenario, which was indirectly from a corner kick. Acosta sent a corner into the penalty area in the 33rd minute, Bingham got a fist on the ball, but Opoku kept the ball inside the penalty area, Portland’s Santiago Moreno came out to defend Opoku, but Opoku made a cutting move, Moreno stuck his left cleat and ended up clipping Opoku and referee Joseph Dickerson immediately bew his whistle and signaled LAFC to the penalty spot. Sure enough, Vela stepped up to the spot and in the 34th minute sent the left-footed penalty to the right post as Bingham guessed wrong. LAFC tripled its advantage in the 52nd minute, as Jose Cifuentes pressured Diego Chara into a turnover, igniting an LAFC fast break. Denis Bouanga played a ball to Vela, who then made his way into the penalty area, played a ball to Opoku and he slotted a shot past Bingham near post.

“Well, feeling amazing, fantastic, great,” Opoku said. “I can’t describe it you know. I’m feeling great to be back on the field with Carlos [Vela], Deni [Bounaga] and everyone. It feels great. And the way they helped me to grow as a player, as a person is really amazing.”

Portland however went down swinging the rest of the match. The Timbers ended the shutout in the 62nd minute, as Juan Mosquera led a Timbers break, played a short cross towards Cristian Paredes, who then dummied a ball, which left Evander with a sightline and he capitalized, shooting a ball unmarked in the box that got past keeper John McCarthy. Paredes and the Timbers made things really interesting in the 84th minute, following a corner, Mosquera shot a ball towards goal, the shot was blocked, but the ball came to Nathan Fogaca, and he attempted a bicycle kick towards goal, the ball took a bounce and Paredes buried the point-blank shot to pull the Timbers to within a goal. LAFC however made sure Portland got no further, as they were able to seal away the rest of the match.