(East Los Angeles, CA) April 5, 2022 [From The Editor’s Desk]: After traveling back East to play their second road match of the season against Orlando City, SC on Saturday, 4/2, the Black & Gold remain in first place after five weeks of MLS play. For their (4-2) win over Orlando, there is plenty of thanks in the offing to the following four players who made it all happen. They are: Brian Rodríguez, Jesús David Murillo, Ilie Sánchez, and Kwadwo “Mahala” Opoku. All scored within the highly potent offensive strategies and points of attack established under new Coach, Steve Cherundolo.
The much-coveted three points earned in the match were powered by a variety of entertaining and precision-like goals. After their fifth match of the young season, the “Black & Gold” are proud owners of an unbeaten record and stand alone in first place with a (4W-0L-1T) record. They lead Real Salt Lake who are (3W-1L-2T) after their sixth match. Let’s take the official read from the Club’s Communication Department and their recap of the match.
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LAFC REMAINS UNBEATEN WITH 4-2 WIN OVER ORLANDO CITY
The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) remained unbeaten in 2022 with an electrifying 4-2 win over Orlando City SC last Saturday night at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, FL. Brian Rodríguez, Jesús David Murillo, Ilie Sánchez and Mahala Opoku all scored for LAFC, giving the Black & Gold their fourth win on the season. With this win, LAFC is 4-0-1 for 13 points and remain atop the MLS standings.
The Black & Gold got on the board first, scoring in the 24th minute when Brian Rodríguez finished off a great attack with assists from Cristian Arango and Carlos Vela.
Orlando leveled the match 12 minutes later in the 36th minute on a goal from Alexandre Pato. LAFC took the lead back in the 38th minute when Murillo scored his career MLS goal, but Orlando tied the match at 2-2 six minutes later on a Joao Moutinho goal just before halftime.
Ilie Sánchez gave LAFC the 3-2 lead on a blast from the top of the penalty box in the 51st minute, and Mahala finished the scoring in the 93rd minute with his second goal of the season off an LAFC counter attack.
The Black & Gold will look to stay undefeated when they return to action on Saturday, April 9 on the road against the Galaxy. That game kicks off at 4:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on FOX, Fox Deportes, ESPN 710 AM, and 980 AM La Mera La Mera.
NEWS & NOTES:
- LAFC is now undefeated after five games for the third time in the club’s five-year history. LAFC also was unbeaten through the first five games of 2019 and 2020.
- Jesus Murillo scored the first goal of his MLS career in the first half. Murillo scored the game-tying goal for the MLS All-Stars in the 2021 MLS All-Star Game.
- Carlos Vela assisted on the first LAFC goal of the game, and now has 61 goals and 37 assists in 91 regular season games with LAFC. Both of which are club records.
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