Gareth Bale has notched his first goal for Los Angeles FC following his summer transfer to Major League Soccer.
The former Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur star recently completed a move to America following his exit from the Santiago Bernabeu and making just his second appearance for his new side, Bale came off the bench and fired in the 83 rd minute to help LAFC earn a 2-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park.
Picked out coming off the right wing, Bale cut inside and shot on his left foot from just inside the penalty area in true Bale fashion and squirmed a shot past substitute goalkeeper John Pulskamp.
Both of Bale’s appearances so far have come from the substitute’s bench, making his debut during a 2-1 win away at Nashville last Monday, with the Welsh star yet to make his full MLS debut.
Speaking after getting his first goal for an LAFC side who are captained by former Arsenal forward Carlos Vela, Bale said while it was nice to open his account for the club, he was happier to help his side seal a seventh league win in the space of nine games.
"[It was] nice to come on and grab a goal to help the team get the three points,” said Bale. “So from a personal point of view it's nice to get off the mark, and more importantly get the three points."
Will Gareth Bale be a big success at Los Angeles FC? Have your say in the comments section.
After 20 league games, LAFC sit top of MLS’ Western Conference by a point, as well as being top of the whole of this season’s MLS by a point, with Austin FC sat in second in both standings.
Former Juventus star and World Cup and European Championship winning defender Giorgio Chiellini is among Bale's teammates in LA. The 37-year-old made his full debut against Nashville, the same game as Bale’s debut. He also started in the win over Sporting KC.
MLS sides have had plenty of attention in recent weeks of pre-season with a number of English clubs taking on teams in friendlies ahead of the upcoming 2022/23 Premier League campaign.
Chelsea recently lost 5-4 on penalties to Charlotte FC after drawing 1-1 in 90 minutes, while Everton suffered a 4-0 thumping at the hands of Minnesota United.
In the early hours of Sunday morning in America, Chelsea’s pre-season woes continued following a shock 4-0 loss to London rivals Arsenal, while Barcelona recorded a 1-0 El Clasico win over Real Madrid in Las Vegas.
Manchester City also got their pre-season off to a winning start on Sunday morning, with summer signing Erling Haaland scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory over German champions Bayern Munich in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
