Diego Rossi scored in the 11th minute off a pass from Carlos Vela, and expansion Los Angeles FC withstood a second-half onslaught for a 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders on Sunday to open the MLS season.
The league's 23rd franchise got off to a sterling start in Bob Bradley's first match coaching in MLS since 2006. Rossi, who turns 20 on Monday, showed his scoring skill by one-timing the pass from Vela 20 yards from goal and curling a shot past Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei. It was a stunning strike, topped only by LAFC playing the final 79 minutes without giving up an equalizer.