LAFC Triumphs Over MNUFC 1-0 to Kick Off Its 2025 Season
Los Angeles, BMO Stadium – The stage was set for an exhilarating season opener as Los Angeles FC hosted Minnesota United FC on a partly cloudy 74-degree afternoon. The energy was electric, with the first 15,000 fans filling the stadium, each receiving a limited-edition Denis Bouanga bobblehead in honor of the star forward who has become the face of LAFC’s offensive attack.
As the match unfolded, the stakes were high. LAFC entered the game with a solid 4-1-1 home record against Minnesota, having scored 13 goals and conceded just five in previous encounters. Bouanga, who has been in scintillating form, has led the charge. He has scored 69 goals in 106 career MLS appearances, the French forward was poised to make history, seeking to become the first player in MLS to score 20+ goals in three consecutive seasons.
The first half, however, proved to be a tactical chess match. LAFC looked sharp, pressing forward with intensity, but Minnesota’s well-drilled defense made life difficult for Bouanga and company. While LAFC had their moments, the visitors held firm, with goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair pulling off some crucial saves. Minnesota, though on the back foot for much of the half, posed occasional threats on the counter, forcing LAFC’s defense to stay alert.Neither team could find a breakthrough, and at the half, the score was deadlocked at 0-0.
It was a tense, evenly matched contest, with both sides showing flashes of quality but unable to capitalize. The second half of the season opener for LAFC and Minnesota United FC unfolded like a mirror image of the first: the Black and Gold continued to dominate possession, pressing forward in search of the elusive breakthrough, while Minnesota’s defense held strong, refusing to give an inch. Despite LAFC’s commanding time of possession, the Loons were determined to keep their shape and frustrate the home side.
However, as the clock ticked down, the pressure finally told. In the 78th minute, a moment of individual brilliance unlocked the stalemate. Jeremy Ebobisse, ever the poacher, found himself in the perfect spot just outside the penalty area. The ball came to him after a well timed pass from Nathan Ordaz, and without hesitation, Ebobisse unleashed a powerful shot toward the top left corner of the net. Minnesota’s goalkeeper, Dayne St. Clair, could only watch as the ball rocketed into the back of the net.The stadium erupted in jubilation as LAFC took a well deserved 1-0 lead.
The roar of the crowd echoed across BMO Stadium, with the fans celebrating the breakthrough that had been so hard earned. It was a moment of quality from Ebobisse, who showed exactly why he’s one of LAFC’s most dangerous attackers. Ordaz, too, was the architect of the goal, delivering a perfectly weighted pass that allowed his teammate to showcase his striking prowess.With the goal, the game suddenly took on a new rhythm. Minnesota now had to chase the game, leaving them open to LAFC’s counterattacks, while the Black and Gold looked to build on their advantage. But the goal in the 78th minute would prove to be the decisive moment, one that lifted LAFC to a hard fought, yet well deserved victory.
