Carlos Vela Hat Trick Helps LAFC Earn 3-0 Win Over Colorado In 2022 MLS Season Opener

LAFC opened the 2022 MLS season with a convincing 3-0 home win over the Colorado Rapids in front of a capacity crowd at Banc of California Stadium. Carlos Vela scored all three goals for LAFC as he recorded the third hat trick of his MLS career and just the fifth hat trick ever recorded on an MLS Opening Day. With the win, LAFC is now a perfect 5-0-0 in season and home openers, keeping a clean sheet in four of those five wins.

The win was the first for LAFC's new head coach, Steve Cherundolo, who was officially named the second head coach in club history on January 3.

Vela scored the first goal of the Cherundolo-era in the 29th minute when he converted a penalty kick after Rapids defender Lalas Abubakar was whistled for a handball inside the penalty area.

The lead was doubled six minutes later when Jose Cifuentes won the ball in his own half of the field and quickly hit a long through ball that found Vela behind the Colorado defense. The LAFC captain held off the challenge of Abubakar and placed a right-footed shot inside the post to give the home side a 2-0 advantage.

Vela completed his hat trick, the seventh in club history, in the 50th minute with Cifuentes again providing the assist. The Ecuadorian international played Vela into space on the right wing and Vela was able to cut onto his left foot before curling a shot inside the far post and past Colorado goalkeeper William Yarbrough. That goal was the 60th regular season goal of Vela's LAFC career and increased LAFC's lead to 3-0. It was the third hat trick of Vela’s career and just the fifth hat trick in a season-opening game in MLS history.

LAFC has now had a player score three goals in a game eight times in its history. Adama Diomande was the first LAFC player with a hat trick on June 30, 2018 in a 4-3 win over Philadelphia.

LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, one of six players, including four starters, to make their LAFC debuts on the day, made one save to earn the clean sheet for the home side. This was the third straight year in which LAFC has opened the season with a home shutout victory.

The Black & Gold are back in action on Sunday, March 6 when they host the reigning Western Conference Champion Portland Timbers at Banc of California Stadium. That game kicks off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast nationally on FS1 and FOX Deportes.