Carlos Vela scored a goal and had two assists Sunday as LAFC remained undefeated through the opening two weeks of the MLS season, with a 4-1 victory over the visiting Portland Timbers.
Mark-Anthony Kaye, Christian Ramirez and Adama Diomande also scored goals for LAFC. Diomande delivered a goal as a substitute for the second consecutive game.
Jeremy Ebobisse scored for the Timbers, who remain winless after coming out of Colorado in the opening week of the season with a 3-3 tie. Portland played the final 18 minutes on Sunday, plus injury time, with 10 players after Diego Chara was sent off for his second yellow card.
LAFC took a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute when Vela’s corner kick fell perfectly on the head of Kaye, who redirected his first of the season into the top left corner of the goal. Kay, who had ankle surgery last season, scored for the first time since July 3 of last year.
The Timbers got even at 1-1 in the 29th minute when Ebobisse scored off Diego Valeri‘s free kick toward the front of the LAFC goal. Ebobisse outraced the defense to deliver a header past goalkeeper Tyler Miller.
Ramirez’s sliding goal moments before halftime came off a centering pass from Jordan Harvey, after Vela set up the play with a pass to the wing. Neither Harvey nor Vela were officially credited with assists, however, as Harvey’s pass appeared to be tipped before Ramirez’s finish.
Diomande came on in the 63rd minute and delivered a tap-in tally less than two minutes later, after a perfect cross from Vela on the right side beat the keeper and left a gaping net.
Two minutes later, Vela delivered a goal of his own when he took a pass from Diomande and scored with his left foot from the right side of goal. It was the first of the season for Vela, who led the team in goals (14) and assists (13) last season.
Portland is two games into a run of 12 consecutive road contests to open the season, as work is completed on a remodel of its home stadium. The third game of the Timbers’ road journey takes place next weekend, in expansion FC Cincinnati’s first-ever home game.