LAFC Beats Portland 2-1, Wins Supporters’ Shield and Homefield Advantage in Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs
October 2, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Los Angeles FC News Release
With a 2-1 victory over Western Conference rival Portland Timbers, the Los Angeles Football Cub have claimed the 2022 Supporters’ Shield, awarded by the supporters to the MLS team with the best overall regular season record. LAFC has won the Shield for the second time in Club history and secures the top seed and homefield advantage throughout the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs. LAFC will compete in the 2023 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League as the winners of the 2022 Supporters’ Shield.
LAFC kicks off the Playoffs on Oct. 20 in the Western Conference Semifinals.
LAFC owns a 21-8-4 record and a league-best 67points, with the final regular season game on Oct. 9 vs. Nashville. LAFC won the Supporter’s Shield in 2019.
Denis Bouanga scored his first MLS goal in the 95th minute, breaking a 1-1 tie and securing the trophy for LAFC. Carlos Vela gave LAFC the lead in the 51st minute off an assist from Kellyn Acosta, but Dairon Asprilla tied the match in the 81st minute on a header before Bouanga came through with his late game heroics.
LAFC returns home for the team’s final match of the regular season on Sunday, Oct. 9, when they take on Nashville at Banc of California Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. PT. The match will be broadcast locally KCOP 13 and Estrella TV 62.2 and on radio on the ESPN LA App and 980 AM La Mera Mera.
NEWS & NOTES
With the 21st win of his MLS coaching career, Steve Cherundolo set a new MLS record for most wins by a first-year head coach, surpassing Bob Bradley (1998 Chicago Fire) and Thomas Rongen (1996 Tampa Bay Mutiny) who both won 20 games in his first season as an MLS head coach.
Carlos Vela scored his 12th goal of the season on Sunday…He now has 12 goals and 12 assists and is just the fifth player in MLS history to record 10+ goals and 10+ assists in three or more seasons.
LAFC is 13-2-1 in 2022 when Vela scores or assists.
The Black & Gold are 17-1-0 when scoring first in 2022.
Since joining MLS in 2018, LAFC leads MLS in total regular season points (273), wins (79) and goals (319).
LAFC clinched the Supporter’s Shield with a 2-1 victory over the Portland Timbers for a 21-8-4 record and a league-best 67 points. This is the second time in LAFC’s five season in which they will enter the postseason with the best record in MLS.
The team’s 21 wins ties the club’s all-time record for most single season wins set in 2019. This is the second time in LAFC’s five-year history that they will have won 20 or more games.
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