LAFC wins the 2022 Supporters’ Shield… but the job’s not finished
The Los Angeles Football Club has won their second Supporters’ Shield in five seasons after defeating Portland Timbers 2-1 on the road.
Dénis Bouanga scored his first Major League Soccer goal in the 95th minute to give the Los Angeles Football Club a 2-1 road win over the Portland Timbers on Sunday in the penultimate game of the regular season. With this win, their third in the last eight fixtures, LAFC won the 2022 Supporters’ Shield and secured the top seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The ‘Black & Gold’ will kick off the Western Conference semifinals on Oct. 20 and they are two games away from reaching the 2022 MLS Cup final for the first time in franchise history. Winning the Supporters’ Shield could also secure the home-field advantage in the MLS Cup final on Nov. 5, if they are able to reach it this season.
Carlos Vela with another historic season
The former Mexico international scored a stunner from outside the box in the win over Portland and he now tallies 12 goals and 11 assists in 31 appearances this campaign, with one game left. Vela is the fourth player in MLS history to reach double digit goals and assists in a single season (2018, 2019 and 2022).
“I am very happy and every accomplishment I’ve had here [at LAFC] makes me feel very special because I was the first player to join LAFC,” said Vela after the game.
“I feel that I am part of the team’s history, but the main objective is to win the MLS Cup. That is something I have not been able to do in the last four years and that has been the main objective since day one.
“Winning personal awards was never the main goal and the most important thing is to win as a group and we are on the right track to win the MLS Cup. We have the most difficult part of the season ahead of us because in the playoffs you win or go home and we have to prepare in the best way. But I am happy with what’s coming,” added the 33-year-old.