By LAFC’s lofty standards, Saturday’s attendance of 10,483 was nothing special. Before COVID-19 hit, the team sold out 39 straight MLS games at Banc of California Stadium.
But the modest crowd, which filled less than half the stadium, represented a big step toward post-pandemic normalcy for the team and MLS — it was the largest for a soccer game in California since the coronavirus hit.
Carlos Vela’s return to the starting lineup for the first time in more than a month marked a return to normalcy too. Even the way LAFC played was reminiscent of old times, with a pair of first-half goals from Diego Rossi lifting it to a 2-1 win over the Colorado Rapids, snapping a four-game winless slide and a two-game losing streak.