LAFC to victory in Gareth Bale’s L.A. debut
Kwadwo Opoku and Carlos Vela scored in the first half, and LAFC beat the Seattle Sounders 2-1 Friday night in the home debuts of European superstars Giorgio Chiellini and Gareth Bale.
MLS-leading LAFC (15-4-3) earned its season-best fourth consecutive victory and moved seven points clear of Austin atop the Western Conference during its longest winning streak since 2019.
LAFC is also six points ahead Philadelphia in the race for the Supporters’ Shield.
Seattle scored on an early own-goal by LAFC, but still dropped to 0-5-1 at Banc of California during the regular season.
The Sounders won the 2019 Western Conference final here.
Chiellini started and played 71 minutes, while Bale came on as a substitute in the 63rd minute of both players’ third match with their new club.
Kwadwo Opoku and Carlos Vela scored in the first half, and LAFC beat the Seattle Sounders 2-1 Friday night in the home debuts of European superstars Giorgio Chiellini and Gareth Bale.
The duo’s moves to LAFC this summer turned a team that was already atop the MLS table into a potential powerhouse for the final three months of the season.
Juventus forward Angel Di Maria tries to dribble away from Barcelona defender Jordi Alba, rear, and forward Pierre Emeric
Aubameyang, left, during the first half of a soccer match at the Cotton Bowl, Tuesday, July 26, 2022 in Dallas. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Bale, who scored his first MLS goal at Kansas City last week, got several standing ovations from the lively crowd. Chiellini also got loud cheers when he checked out.