“We Are L.A. Strong!”

(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: On another beautiful sunny day in L.A., the weather was a perfect 80 degrees. The big crowd, bolstered by “El Grupo 3252” and Company, was electric and loud. The teams were undoubtedly up to the pending initial battle of the season on the pitch at BMO Stadium, and it was again time for the “beautiful” sport to be played.

For the LAFC, it was the start of its 8th year of competition in the Major League Soccer (MLS), and with that excellent accomplishment as a franchise well-beloved by its fans, it was just the right time to start the brand-new season. So off we go into the first home match of the season.

[LAFC STARTING XI]:GK/#1 Hugo Lloris, (FRA); DF/#4/Eddie Segura, (COL); MF/#6/Jesus Igor, (BRA) MF/#8/Mark Delgado; FW/#9/Olivier Giroud, (FRA); MF/#11/Timothy Tillman, (USA); DF/#14/Sergi Palencia, (ESP); DF/#24/Ryan Hollingshead, (USA); FW/#30/David Martínez, (VEN); DF/#33/Aaron Long, (USA); and FW/#99/Denis Bouanga (FRA)

[PRE-MATCH NOTES]: It was a #99 Denis Bouanga “Bobblehead Day” promotion to set the theme and tone of the match-day. The LAFC played a decent pre-season schedule in their Coachella Valley Invitational match-ups and the Minnesota United FC also worked hard in their preparations for this always-special opening day, whether at home or not.

[MATCH SUMMARY]

[REFEREE]: Guido Gonzalez, Jr.

[1st HALF]: Each team displayed dominance in its own territories of the pitch, and both squads were basically held in an offensive check, thereby making it strictly a defensive show. Give and take a few shots on goal, and a few “ooohs” and “aaahs” from the large crowd, but no official score was annotated onto the official scorebook, nor onto the fantastic BMO Stadium scoreboard. Much to the dismay of the sold-out and amped up Black & Gold fandom, it was a scoreless first half.

[aigpl-gallery-slider id=”134768″][PHOTO GALLERY]: East L.A. Sports Scene Productions/Frankli Robles, Lead Photographer

[HALF-TIME SCORE]: LAFC  0   Minnesota United FC  0

[2nd HALF]: It was again, the “back & forth” till minute (75:00). Here’s what occurred. After taking in a long lead pass to an open Bouanga, who was then immediately boxed in, he managed to pass the ball laterally, to #27/Nathan Ordaz and, subsequently, with his one extra and clean pass to an unmarked #17/Jeremy Ebobisse. The new Black & Gold member quickly captured it, took good aim, and with his left-foot struck it forward on an upward 45-degree trajectory to the center of the goal and it was through for the first score of the match. Super loud avalanches of cheers then swept down to the pitch and then through BMO and resonated wildly for the excitement it brought.

The scoring occasion that arrived at minute (78:00), marked Ebobisse’s first goal as an LAFC player, and it was, (1-0), Black & Gold on top first. The assist was recorded to both Ordaz and Bouanga. The remainder of the match was a tussle for the “Loons” as the LAFC “pressure” defense aligned itself well for Head Coach, Steve Cherundolo. He sent in his reinforcements in #9/Giroud for Ebobisse and #4/Segura for Marlon to seal the match victory for LAFC. Overall, a very deserving win for the team and its fanbase to kick-off the season for LAFC.

[FULL-TIME SCORE]: LAFC  1   Minnesota United FC  0            [ATTENDANCE]: 22,310

[OF SIGNIFICANCE]: Defense wins championships as the “tried and true” saying goes, but it also wins matches in close soccer/fútbol as in other team sports. That was well-evidenced on this late winter night in the match’s outcome. A big “Thumbs Up” and a confident “Onwards and Upwards” to the team as they remain undefeated in their home opener streak, prolonging it to an amazing (8-0).

[MAN OF THE MATCH]: #1/Goalkeeper/Hugo Lloris