LAFC Opens the Season with a 1-0 Victory
LAFC entered its eighth Major League Soccer (MLS) season with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty, culminating in a 1-0 victory over Minnesota United at BMO Stadium on Saturday. The game, which drew a crowd of 22,310, was marked by a goal from newcomer Jeremy Ebobisse in the 78th minute. This win, while extending LAFC’s league-record unbeaten streak in home openers to 8-0-0, did little to dispel the doubts surrounding the team’s ability to return to the MLS Cup final for a third time in four seasons.
A Season of Transition
The offseason was a particularly busy one for LAFC, with General Manager John Thorrington making significant changes to the roster. The team parted ways with 15 players, including three of its top four scorers and two of its leading midfielders. These departures, notably the $9 million transfer of Mateusz Bogusz to Cruz Azul, raised questions about LAFC’s depth and its capacity to maintain its high standards of performance. Thorrington, however, remains optimistic. “When you are selling players because they’ve generated interest, it means they’ve done really well for you,” he said. “Yes, it’s harder. But we don’t shy away from that. And now our job is to find the next guy that our supporters will cheer for and will represent LAFC.”
A Familiar Playing Style
Despite the significant roster changes, LAFC’s playing style remains consistent. The team often prefers to play a defensive game and attack in transition, a strategy that was evident in their match against Minnesota. Although LAFC controlled the ball for nearly an hour, they struggled to break down the cautious Minnesota United defense in the early stages of the game. The Black and Gold’s approach has been successful in the past, with the team finishing atop the Western Conference standings and winning the U.S. Open Cup last year. However, their early playoff exit in the conference semifinals highlights the challenges of maintaining this model.
Key Moments from the Match
The first half of the match was relatively uneventful, with both teams combining to put just four of 21 shots on goal. The game’s pivotal moments came in the 13th minute when Kelvin Yeboah’s left-footed shot struck the right post and caromed across the goalmouth, followed by an attempted clearance that nearly found its way into the net, forcing LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to make a crucial save. The match turned in LAFC’s favor in the 70th minute when Nathan Ordaz, a 21-year-old product of the LAFC academy, entered the game for David Martínez. Ordaz’s energy and speed immediately opened up the Minnesota midfield, drawing a yellow card and setting up a corner kick in his first five minutes. This momentum culminated in Ebobisse’s goal, which sealed the win for LAFC.
The Impact of New Talent
Jeremy Ebobisse, signed as a free agent in December, proved to be the hero of the day with his game-winning goal. The goal came as a result of a well-coordinated play, with Denis Bouanga and Ordaz working the ball around the penalty area. Mark Delgado, another new acquisition, played a crucial role by freeing up Bouanga with a through ball. These new additions, particularly Ordaz, brought a fresh dynamic to the team, highlighting LAFC’s ability to adapt and integrate new talent.
Looking Forward
While LAFC’s victory on Saturday was a positive start, the team remains a work in progress. The challenging winter conditions in their recent CONCACAF Champions Cup playoff match against Colorado underscored the team’s resilience. That game, played in snowy 1-degree temperatures, was the coldest-ever contest between MLS teams. Despite the loss, LAFC will have another chance to make an impact in the second leg of the playoff at BMO Stadium. As the season progresses, the focus will be on how effectively the new players integrate and whether LAFC can replicate the success of previous years.
