Unified Team Completes Unbeaten Season with Win over Portland

The LAFC Special Olympics Unified Team capped off its third season with a 6-1 win over the Portland Timbers’ Special Olympics Unified Team at BMO Stadium on Saturday evening.

Goals from Zion Jung, Miguel Gonzalez-Davila, Douglas Molina, Manny Zambrano, and a brace from David Haley, paved the Black & Gold’s path to victory, completing an unbeaten season with a record of 8W-0L-1D across all competitions.

The match was part of Major League Soccer’s Unified initiative, in which MLS clubs work with local Special Olympics organizations to create teams consisting of players with and without intellectual disabilities – teams that emphasize inclusion and that “play unified.” LAFC’s team is made possible through its partnership with BMO and Special Olympics Southern California.

Portland’s Unified Team, making its first ever road trip, arrived in Los Angeles on Friday and joined the LAFC Unified Team at Dockweiler State Beach for an evening of fellowship, fun, and a sunset swim. On matchday, the two sides met up again for an autograph session at BMO Stadium along with other pregame activities. LAFC captains Penelope Yado and Douglas Molina were the honorary falconers before the LAFC vs. Portland Timbers MLS match, releasing Olly the Falcon to take her traditional flight around BMO Stadium just prior to kickoff. After the MLS match, the two Unified teams took the pitch, warmed up, and got to work.

Early in the match (which was streamed live on LAFC’s YouTube channel), Portland controlled possession, but it was LAFC winger Zion Jung who began the scoring, finishing an assist from midfielder Noah Amezcua at a tight angle to give the Black & Gold a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute.

Portland responded quickly, with Carter Galan executing a leaping finish of a cross from Tavin Agee to tie the match 1-1. Before halftime, LAFC earned two free kicks from just outside the penalty area. Gonzalez-Davila, a centerback nicknamed “Turbo,” finished the first opportunity with a right-footed laser from distance that found the top right corner. Midfielder Haley curled the second free kick around the Timbers’ wall and just past the dive of Portland goalkeeper Deyder Chub Ichich to give LAFC Unified a 3-1 lead at halftime.

Following a halftime visit from LAFC first-team winger and 2026 FIFA World Cup participant Jacob Shaffelburg (above), who shared words of encouragement with the LAFC Unified Team, the second half saw the LAFC back line - featuring a rotation of defenders including Joseph Trejo, Ashley Marin, Penelope Yado, Jayden Carbajal, Chris Vasquez, Josue Foster, and Edgar Archila - take control of the match.

While goalkeeper Kevin Demetrio was keeping a second-half clean sheet, the Black & Gold’s press at the top of its 4-3-3 formation continued creating scoring chances through the efforts of Manuel Hernandez, Mona Rodriguez, Alec Scheitt, Sammy Villaseñor, Jonathan Gutierrez, Zac Soto, and Edrick Escalante.

Midway through the second half, Jung drew a penalty near the Timbers’ goal then handed the ball to Molina, a three-year veteran of the Unified Team who drove his chance into the upper corner to put LAFC ahead 4-1. The drums and chants of the 3252 Independent Supporters' Union were still going strong when Haley took off on a solo run, finishing at the near post to put the home side up 5-1.

Zambrano (below) capped the scoring when a Villaseñor pass met him in front of goal, setting up a tap-in that gave LAFC its final 6-1 margin of victory.

“Portland was one of the strongest teams we have played this year,” LAFC assistant coach Jose Barajas said after the match. “I hope that they feel proud of their performance and their teamwork. We were impressed by their positive attitude and team spirit throughout the weekend and we hope to see them again.”

“I had a lot of fun tonight,” said Carbajal, a left back and Unified athlete in his second year with LAFC. “My favorite part was meeting all of the Portland players, and being with my teammates one more time to finish this incredible season.”