It took less than a minute and could hardly have been more direct.
First came the pass from LAFC defender Denil Maldonado from his penalty arc to the center circle, where attackers Mateusz Bogusz and Mahala Opoku played a quick one-two that left Bogusz with an acre of space and a retreating Sounders back line before him. A heartbeat later the ball was spinning in Seattle’s net and Los Angeles Football Club had scored the second-fastest goal in its history—the only goal it would need in a businesslike, 1-0 victory over Seattle Sounders FC at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
The win was the Black & Gold’s second straight, and it placed them atop the Western Conference standings through 18 games, with 16 remaining in their 2023 MLS regular season.
Bogusz’s right-footed shot from 25 yards out took a slight deflection off Sounders centerback Jackson Ragen before beating goalkeeper Stefan Frei 54 seconds into the match. Only former LAFC forward Cristian Arango, who dented the net just 20 seconds into a September 2021 game against Real Salt Lake, has scored faster in the club’s six-year history. Both goals came following direct attacks through the center of the pitch, emblematic of a club that prides itself on taking the shortest path to its target.
“It’s very nice to score goals of course,” Bogusz said, “but the most important is the team. I’m very happy that we got three points at home because it’s been a long time [since we won here] … I will keep working and hopefully I will score more goals.”
Saturday night’s win played out before a home crowd of 22,125 in downtown LA, with supporters in the North End at full volume, and with the blanket of clouds that had shrouded Los Angeles for weeks giving way to a clear sky.
Also gone: the winless, goal-starved string of six games that preceded LAFC’s defeat of Sporting KC four days earlier.
“I think the priorities tonight were to win and the guys got that right,” said LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo. “They put in the necessary work in Kansas City first, and then capitalized on it again tonight, so very pleased with that. I think the textbook discipline and the awareness and the effort is back.”
Each team controlled the ball in equal quantity Saturday night during a clean game between two of MLS’ more successful franchises. The Sounders were playing without forward Jordan Morris and midfielder Cristian Roldan, both of whom are training with the US Mens National team as it prepares for its Gold Cup match on June 24. Sounders midfielder Alex Roldan was also unavailable due to his commitment to El Salvador’s national team.
LAFC welcomed forward Dénis Bouanga back to its starting eleven. MLS’ second-leading scorer (10 goals), Bouanga returned following international duty with Gabon.
Each team recorded just two shots on target, with LAFC taking 14 total shots compared to Seattle’s ten. A close-range Jose Cifuentes header off a Bogusz free kick bounded into the visitors’ goal in the 76th minute but was disallowed following VAR review due to a handball violation.
LAFC injected five young substitutes into the game in the second half as it continues to rotate its roster during a busy June. “We’ve been thrown through the gauntlet and it’s been really difficult physically and mentally to get everyone ready in a three-to-four day rhythm,” said Cherundolo. “Hats off to the players, they’ve done fantastic. Top of the West [standings], played in a Champions League final, still have a game in hand I believe, so … we’re very happy with those results. Can we play better football? Absolutely, and we will.”
NEWS & NOTES
- With the win, LAFC jumped into first place in the Western Conference with a 9-3-5 record on the season for 32 points - three points clear of second place St. Louis and four ahead of Seattle in the conference standings.
- Mateusz Bogusz scored the second fastest goal in LAFC history, netting his second goal of the season 54 seconds into the match.
- Fastest Goals in LAFC History
9/12/2021 Cristian Arango 0:20
6/21/2023 Mateusz Bogusz 0:54
4/24/2021 Eduard Atuesta 1:25
9/23/2020 Dejan Jakovic 1:36
10/16/2021 Danny Musovski 2:10
3/25/2023 Timothy Tillman 2:14
- John McCarthy recorded his sixth clean sheet of the season. He has only allowed more than a single goal at home once in MLS play this season, with that coming in the season opener on March 4.
- LAFC now have seven shutouts in their 17 MLS matches, and have allowed 16 goals, the third-lowest total in the league.
The Black & Gold are back in action on Saturday, June 24 as they host the Vancouver Whitecaps at BMO Stadium. That game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. PT and can be seen live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
