2nd-year Franchise is MLS Best in 2019
LAFC players celebrate during postgame media conference
LAFC players, owners, staff and media gather for Supporters' Shield presentation in front of The 3252 supporters' section
Midfielder Eduard Atuesta (center) scored insurance goal
Scoreboard and Shield!
Video snapshot of Black and Gold members enjoying media conference
Midfielder Latif Blessing splits the Dynamo
LAFC Captain Carlos Vela (center) get set for penalty kick in 23rd minute
The 3252 fan supporter watch as defender Tristan Blackmon (neon green shoes) heads ball away from LAFC goal
And the 2019 Supporters Shield for the best team in Major League Soccer goes to... Los Angeles Football Club! In only its second season as an MLS franchise, LAFC has earned its first major hardware to fill the Black and Gold trophy case... and certainly not its last. LAFC now commands home field advantage throughout the MLS Cup Playoffs beginning in mid-October.
"The first trophy for this club, I'm proud of all of us. It was great that we could do it here," said elated LAFC head coach Bob Bradley. "Obviously, what we pride ourselves on is that this club, which is only in its second year, has a real connection with supporters, a connection with this city, and we've always tried to have a team that everybody could feel a part of."
On Wednesday night, September 25, a packed house at Banc of California Stadium, spurred on by the best fan supporters group of any Los Angeles professional sports team - The 3252, shared a grand celebration with the players, owners and staff following LAFC's 3-1 clinching victory over the Houston Dynamo. The festivities continued into the locker room, where the players showered each other with sweet victory champagne.
LAFC took a 1-0 lead on captain Carlos Vela's penalty kick in the 23rd minute but went into the locker room at halftime tied 1-1 on an own goal by goalkeeper Tyler Miller in the 28th minute. Forward Diego Rossi's diving header off a crossbar rebound in the 70th minute set the stadium into a frenzy. Midfielder Eduard Atuesta delivered a beautiful curve on a set piece in the 82nd minute to seal the result.
"When I've said that I came here to do something special, tonight is the big night for us," said Vela. "We worked really hard for this moment. We're proud of the whole team. I hope this is just the beginning of something really cool."
LAFC with a 20-4-8 record and 68 points still has two matches remaining in the regular season. The travel to Minnesota United FC this Sunday before returning home to face the Colorado Rapids on October 6 for their final regular season home game. LAFC will have a bye in Round 1 of the Playoffs and will host their opponent for the Conference Semifinals on Wednesday, October 23 or Thursday, October 24 at the Banc.
Read the Culver City Observer's upcoming edition for the complete story of LAFC's historical win.
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