LAFC spoils Austin's MLS debut with 2-nil win

STORY: Soccer MLS Los Angeles - LAFC spoils Austin's MLS debut with 2-nil win

LENGTH: 02:24

FIRST RUN:

RESTRICTIONS: No access USA, Canada and the UK with the exception of BBC Worldwide

TYPE: Nat sound

SOURCE: IMG Media

STORY NUMBER: 5271626

DATELINE: 17th April 2021 - Los Angeles, California, USA.

RESTRICTIONS: Available for use on broadcast channels and as standalone digital clips. No access USA, Canada and the UK with the exception of BBC Worldwide. Max use 90 seconds per match. Use within 48 hours. No archive. For broadcast the material should be part of a scheduled news bulletin only. If using as a stand alone clip on websites or social channels geo-blocking must be used on the embargoed territories.

SHOTLIST: Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, California, USA. 17th April, 2021.

LAFC (black) v. Austin FC (white)

1. 00:00 LAFC fan tifo

First Half:

2. 00:08 1st minute - Carlos Vela sets up Diego Palacios for a shot shot saved by Brad Stuver

3. 00:23 20th minute - Vela goes down with injury

4. 00:37 22nd minute - Vela is substituted out, surprisingly to him

5. 00:57 Vela walks past LAFC manager Bob Bradley

6. 01:03 23rd minute - Tomas Pochettino header is saved by Pablo Sisniega

Second Half:

7. 01:17 61st minute: Corey Baird goal, 1-0 LAFC

8. 01:38 Vela on the bench

9. 01:43 90+1 minute: Jose Cifuentes goal after a big run by Kwadwo Opoku, 2-0 LAFC

10. 02:09 Replay

11. 02:21 Vela on the bench

SOURCE: IMG Media

DURATION: 02:25

STORYLINE:

Corey Baird and Jose Cifuentes scored for Los Angeles FC, sending expansion Austin FC to a 2-0 defeat Saturday (17 April) in the inaugural match for Major League Soccer's 27th team.

LAFC had about 4,900 fans in its 22,000-capacity stadium, including 600 fans in the raucous North End supporters’ section.

LAFC faced Austin without 2020 Golden Boot winner Diego Rossi, who has a minor left hamstring strain. Vela then was pulled after 20 minutes when he came up limping after sprinting for a pass and falling down.

Vela was visibly upset he had been removed from the game by coach Bob Bradley, who acknowledged in a halftime interview he probably jumped the gun while a trainer looked at his star striker. Vela missed nearly all of last season with injuries after winning the league MVP award in 2019.