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The 2025 Major League Soccer season kicked off in style on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, with LAFC hosting Minnesota United in the league’s opening match. Fans at BMO Stadium were treated to a special giveaway, as the club distributed its second-ever bobble head, this time honoring Denis Bouanga. Thanks to the BMO staff’s efficient organization, the distribution process was smooth and well-managed.
Rotations and Tactical Adjustments
With a CONCACAF Champions Cup second-leg clash looming on Tuesday, head coach Steve Cherundolo made some adjustments to his starting lineup. Jeremy Ebobisse led the attack in place of Olivier Giroud, while Marlon Santos stepped into the backline for Eddie Segura. These changes reflected the club’s priority management as they balanced MLS and continental competition.
Minnesota’s Counterattacking Approach
From a tactical perspective, the game appeared destined to remain a tight, goalless affair. Cherundolo’s LAFC squad effectively neutralized Minnesota’s midfield and possession play, a trend that could define their season.
Minnesota, structured in a 5-3-2 formation, was built for quick transitions and counterattacks. With last season’s arrival of Kelvin Yeboah and the pacey Tani Oluwaseyi leading the attack, the Loons had a duo capable of stretching defenses. Supporting them were speedy wingbacks Joseph Rosales and Bongokuhle Hlongwane, ensuring that LAFC had to be precise in possession to avoid costly turnovers.
Despite a few moments where Minnesota threatened, LAFC’s defensive unit—Aaron Long, Marlon Santos, Sergi Palencia, Igor Jesus, and Ryan Hollingshead—stood firm. Hugo Lloris was called into action for a crucial save off a deflected clearance, but for the most part, LAFC kept Minnesota from registering a shot on goal until late in the second half.
LAFC’s Midfield Control and Tactical Discipline
Under Cherundolo’s “Dolo Ball” philosophy, LAFC’s counter-pressing remained sharp, even though Timothy Tillman struggled with his passing accuracy. Despite his errors, Tillman’s relentless pressing helped LAFC disrupt Minnesota’s build-up play.
LAFC also focused on retaining more possession than usual, but Minnesota’s compact defensive structure limited clear-cut chances. Most of LAFC’s attacking threats came from David Martinez, whose clever dribbling on the right wing often allowed him to beat one or two defenders, though he struggled to keep his shots on target.
In midfield, Igor Jesus and Mark Delgado were instrumental in shutting down Minnesota’s trio of Facundo Pereyra, Hassani Dotson, and Wil Trapp, preventing them from creating meaningful attacking sequences.
Nathan Ordaz Sparks the Winning Goal
The breakthrough came in the 70th minute when Nathan Ordaz entered the match. As if foreshadowing an inevitable goal, his presence injected fresh energy into LAFC’s attack.
With Cherundolo preparing substitutions for Olivier Giroud and Eddie Segura, play continued for nearly two extra minutes before a stoppage. It was during this period that Marlon Santos executed a crucial slide tackle to break up a Minnesota counterattack, regained possession, and played the ball back to Lloris.
From there, LAFC built a seamless attacking sequence:
➡️ Lloris initiated the transition with two well-won second balls.
➡️ Ordaz found Tillman, who quickly connected with Igor Jesus.
➡️ Jesus fed Delgado, who launched Denis Bouanga on a counterattack.
➡️ Bouanga executed a brilliant U-turn, pulling two Minnesota defenders out of position.
➡️ He then found Ordaz at the top of the box, who laid the ball off for Ebobisse.
➡️ Ebobisse unleashed a stunning first-time, left-footed curler into the upper corner from just outside the box.
The beautifully worked goal was all LAFC needed to secure their first win of the MLS season.
What’s Next for LAFC?
The Black & Gold will now shift their focus to the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup first-round tie on Tuesday night, where they trail 2-1 on aggregate. With their MLS campaign off to a strong start, LAFC will look to carry this momentum into their midweek continental clash.
Text: Erik Hultstrom
Photos: Celso Oliveira
