Jeremy Ebobisse scored in the 78th minute to give host Los Angeles FC a 1-0 victory over Minnesota United on Saturday in the opening game of the 2025 season.
Ebobisse, who signed a three-year free agent contract with Los Angeles in December after scoring 60 goals with 18 assists in 198 games with the Portland Timbers (2017-21) and San Jose Earthquakes (2021-24), curled in a left-footed shot from the middle of the box into the top left corner of the net.
Hugo Lloris made two saves to pick up the clean sheet for defending Western Conference regular-season champion LAFC, while Dayne St. Clair finished with five saves for Minnesota United.
The teams combined for 15 shot attempts, including eight by the host team, during a scoreless first half but none were on target until the 43rd minute when LAFC forward David Martinez attempted a left-footed shot from outside the box that rolled weakly to St. Clair.
Minnesota United had the best scoring chance in the first half when forward Kelvin Yeboah intercepted a pass in the 13th minute and drilled a left-footed shot from outside of the box that went past a diving Lloris, caromed off the left post and then off the right post.
LAFC, which finished with a 62.3 to 37.7 edge in time of possession, had a chance to break the scoreless deadlock in the 56th minute but St. Clair made a diving stop of a right-footed shot by Ebobisse from outside the right side of the box.
A wide-open Ebobisse gave LAFC the lead in the 78th minute when he roofed a short pass from Nathan Ordaz from the middle of the box.
Ebbisse was subbed off for Olivier Giroux after his goal and Giroux nearly added another goal in a matter of minutes when he broke in on the left side, but St. Clair blocked his left-footed shot from the edge of the 6-yard box.
Minnesota United nearly tied it in 88th minute but Sang Bin Jeong’s right-footed shot was deflected over the crossbar.
–Field Level Media
