This past weekend, we welcomed a new season of insanity and madness as the 2025 MLS regular season kicked off for the annual MLS is Back weekend. While there are a few new rules in the league this season, a lot of new faces, and even one new club ( San Diego FC). However, as much as things change, one thing has remained the same. If there’s one thing you can seemingly count on when MLS returns, is LAFC winning their first home match. This past weekend the black & gold were able to pull out the win over Minnesota United, giving them not only the first win of the season, but extending their MLS home opening wins to eight.
🎱 in a row.
How many have you been a part of? pic.twitter.com/ImQQkjpxHQ
— LAFC (@LAFC) February 23, 2025
The match itself was a less snowy version of what we saw in Colorado just a few days ago. It seemingly took a moment for the team to really settle into the match. Despite this being just the second match of the season, we are already seeing some squad rotation as the team navigate not just the start of the MLS season, but the start of their Champions Cup campaign as well. “The reason was last Tuesday and this Tuesday” said LAFC Head Coach Steve Cherundolo when asked post match about Jeremy Ebobisse getting the starting nod over Olivier Giroud for this match. “Every player on our roster is going to see meaningful minutes this year and every player on our roster is important. We will need everyone to be in a good frame of mind, and at his best, in order to achieve our goals.”
It was the visitors who were on the front foot early. Finishing the half with seven shots but none on target, it was Minnesota who had the better chances early on in this match. Had they been a bit more clinical in front of goal, it might have been a very different story for LAFC that afternoon. Los Angeles finished the half with nine shots, four finding their target, but neither side was able to get the ball across the line before the halftime break. The bright spot of the first half for LAFC had to be Venezuelan midfielder, David Martinez. After a spectacular 2024, the youngster showed off why he is in line for a lot more minutes this season.
It took nearly 80 minutes, but after knocking on the door, and several close attempts from outside the box, LAFC finally got the opening goal of the season and the score that would eventual win them the match. In the 78th minute, some excellent passing between the forwards led to a great look at goal. Bouanga took on defenders before getting the ball to Nathan Ordaz who quickly got it to Jeremy Ebobisse, who didn’t waste any time and struck it first touch sending it top shelf, past the keeper, for the late lead and eventual winner.
Top shelf 🎯
What a way to score your first goal in Black & Gold @kingjebo #LAFCvMIN 1-0 pic.twitter.com/K945eiozTs
— LAFC (@LAFC) February 22, 2025
“It was very special. I’ve had a lot of experiences playing here” said newest LAFC attacker Jeremy Ebobisse when asked about his goal. “Never on the right side of the 3252, would’ve been nice to score in front of them. There will be plenty of opportunities to get goals in that end as well, but it was a special environment today.” Once again, one thing that stood out in the performance was how much possession LAFC enjoyed. Last season, this was a team that was happy to give up the ball for majorities of the matches they played, however this season, the club looks more keen on keeping the ball for themselves. They finished the match with 65% possession, in a grind, but overall definitive win to kick off the new MLS campaign.
The win extends the team’s home opening winning streak to eight matches. Every team is different, every roster unique in its own ways, so the run of home openers doesn’t really tell us too much about how the season will play out. However, it does tell us this will be yet another year where the atmosphere at BMO will play a big role for the team. This appears to once again be a team that will look to make their home field as advantageous as possible. Now, they will look to repeat the home energy, with an improved result as they gear up for the second leg of their Champions Cup matchup against Colorado Rapids, this Tuesday.
Thoughts on the win to open the season? Leave a comment below!