Recap | LAFC 2-1 Seattle Sounders FC 2/24/24

LAFC opened the 2024 season on Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders in front of a capacity crowd of 22,214 at BMO Stadium. With the victory, LAFC set an MLS record with its seventh consecutive season-opening victory.

Timothy Tillman gave LAFC a 1-0 lead just before halftime when he hit the back of the net with a right footed volley off Omar Campos’ cross in the 45^th minute, giving Campos his first career assist in his MLS debut.

Mateusz Bogusz would make it 2-0 in the 55^th minute with an impressive right footed blast past Seattle’s goalkeeper Andrew Thomas. Seattle would get one back in the 73^rd minute when Pedro de la Vega scored on a penalty kick to make it 2-1.

Hugo Lloris made his MLS debut for LAFC, joining Tyler Miller as the only goalkeepers in LAFC history with at least seven saves in a regular-season match. 

LAFC now prepares to hit the road for their first away match next Saturday, March 2 when they face Real Salt Lake at America First Field.  That game will kick off at 11 a.m. PT and will be shown live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and on radio on 710 AM ESPN Los Angeles and 980 AM La Mera Mera (Spanish).

NEWS & NOTES

• With today’s win LAFC are now a 7-0 in season openers.

• • 2018 April 29 W v SEA (1-0)
  • 2019 March 3 W v SKC (2-1)
  • 2020 March 1 W v MIA (1-0)
  • 2021 April 17 W v ATX (2-0)
  • 2022 Feb 26 W v COL (3-0)
  • 2023 March 4 v POR (3-2)
  • 2024 Feb 24 W v SEA (2-1)
• LAFC have now faced Seattle twice in their home openers, coming away with wins in both matches including the Black & Gold’s inaugural match on March 4, 2018 when the club notched its first home win.

• Timothy Tillman’s goal in the 45^th minute was the first for LAFC in 2024. Tillman joins Diego Rossi (2018, 2019), Carlos Vela (2020, 2022), Corey Baird (2021), Giorgio Chiellini (2023) as players to open the scoring for LAFC to start the season.

• Eight of the 14 players that featured for LAFC in Saturday’s home opener were also a part of the team that played in the 2023 MLS Cup Final – Denis Bouanga, Cristian Olivera, Ilie Sanchez, Timothy Tillman, Jesus Murillo, Ryan Hollingshead, Mateusz Bogusz and Sergi Palencia.
• Today’s match marked the MLS debuts of Hugo Lloris and Omar Campos.
• Eddie Segura came on as a substitute in the 90^th minute, his first MLS action since the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs when he suffered a knee injury that forced him to miss the entire 2023 MLS regular season.