Carlos Vela leads LAFC past Vancouver 3-1

LAFC #10 Carlos Vela (Forward) scored a goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps in the first half. Photo by Melinda Meijer/TGSportstv1.

LOS ANGELES, CA - The unblemished streak keeps going. After a brief break to Florida, LAFC returned home and prepared to face the Vancouver Whitecaps with the goal of maintaining their unblemished start to the season. In this game, Vancouver defender Tristan Blackmon was a visitor at the stadium he previously called home while LAFC goalkeeper Max Crépeau was hosting his former team. Blackmon and his Whitecaps were unable to defeat a scorching LAFC team, who walked away with a 3-1 victory, three points, and remained unbeaten to start the 2022 season. Blackmon and his Whitecaps are all too aware of how difficult it is to win at The Banc.

Tristan Blackmon, a defender who is now back in action, scored the game's opening goal. Blackmon received a free kick that was brilliantly placed but headed against the post, and he didn't think twice to stab his former team in the back. The goal gave his new team an early advantage and served as a reminder to the black and gold of what they had let go.

Early on in this game, the defenders were instructing the forwards on how to play. Ryan Hollingshead was in the air as Carlos Vela's corner kick found him with a well-placed ball. The defender powered on it with his head, bringing the black and gold even. His first goal for LAFC was the goal.

Never one to be outdone, Carlos Vela, the king of LAFC, scored late in the first half to give LAFC the lead for the first time since the season-opening. Mahala Opoku displayed some exquisite ingenuity, but Vela was able to hang on as the ball bounced around, eventually locating his left foot for the decisive stroke to put it over the goal line.

The score would be 2-1 in favor of LAFC at the half. Despite conceding the first goal, the squad dominated the first period. With eight shots, five of which were on target, they had 62% of the opening 45 minutes compared to Vancouver's three attempts, two of which were on target.

With the exception of the opposition's first goal, the second half was largely the same. That opening goal gave defender Ryan Hollingshead a lot of pleasure. He enjoyed it so much that he repeated it in the 70th. This time, however, a deflection found his foot after bouncing about the penalty area, and he unleashed a rocket to put the ball past the goalkeeper, giving LAFC a 2-0 lead.

For the three points at home, three goals were sufficient. The victory retains the black and gold in first place in the Western Conference rankings and extends their unbeaten streak to four games (three wins, one tie). Even though it's still early, it's a great surprise to see LAFC performing so well straight away given all that happened within the club this off-season. The players will have more time to rest and get ready for their travel back to Florida, where they will play Orlando City SC on April 2, since the International Break begins the following week.