Giorgio Chiellini dedicates his first MLS goal to a former teammate

The reigning champions, the Los Angeles Football Club, faced Portland Timbers to start the 2023 Major League Soccer season after the week 1 matchup against the LA Galaxy was postponed last week due to the severe weather conditions. Prior to the game against the Timbers, the Black & Gold received their 2022 MLS Cup championship rings in a special pregame ceremony at the BMO stadium on Saturday evening.

Chiellini makes his mark in MLS

It was a day of celebration for LAFC and for one of the most beloved players in the roster, Giorgio Chiellini. The Italian defender scored the opening goal of the match in the 24th minute following a corner kick and this was his first with Los Angeles FC. The former Juventus captain became the first oldest player to score a goal in Major League Soccer history at 38 years old and 202 days.

“It is weird because the last goal I scored was in 2019 and it was almost the same. Yesterday in training we practiced set pieces and I scored three goals the same as today [Saturday]. It is unbelievable but as we train, we play. The coach continues to say this and it is true,” said Giorgio Chiellini following the game against the Timbers.

Special dedication

“The celebration is for an old teammate of mine [Davide Astori] who passed away five years ago and I was thinking about him this morning. I don’t know if it is a sign or destiny or nothing more, but I would like to dedicate the goal to him and he is always in my mind. Sometimes I think how it is possible it happened and in that moment I thought how lucky I am and tired to enjoy and live my life the best possible way because there is no guarantee regarding the future,” concluded Chiellini.

LAFC struggled towards the end after the Timbers scored two late goals and they were very close to tying the game. This is something that didn’t sit well with Giorgio Chiellini, who said he rather keep the clean sheet than scoring a goal. Chiellini also became the oldest player in MLS history to score his first goal on Saturday with LAFC.

“I am happy to score. I prefer to keep the clean sheet than scoring a goal to be honest. I prefer to win 1-0 or 2-0 without the other team scoring on me, but I understand how difficult it is to keep a clean sheet in this league. I didn’t want to come out, but I was getting a little tired. In the end it was a good result, but I am happy to win this game,” concluded the Italian defender.

Oldest players to score a goal in MLS history