Hugo Lloris made seven saves and won his MLS debut, leading LAFC to a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders on Saturday.
Timothy Tillman and Mateusz Bogusz scored for LAFC, which began its run to a third straight MLS Cup final after winning the league's postseason title in 2022 and reaching the final again last season.
LAFC became the first club in MLS history to win seven consecutive season openers, having emerged victorious in every opening match since joining the league in 2018.
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LAFC got an impressive debut from Lloris, who moved to the United States last December after 11 and a half seasons with Tottenham, including a decade as Tottenham's starting goalkeeper. The 37-year-old won the World Cup with France in 2018 and has made 20 appearances, a goalkeeper record, in four World Cups.
Pedro de la Vega scored in the 72nd minute of his MLS debut with Seattle on a penalty awarded to the Sounders after an atrociously long video review, but Seattle still lost to the rival that ended its 2023 season in the final of the Western Conference.
Lloris made his first save in the third minute with a close-range shot by Jordan Morris after LAFC's Jesús Murillo coughed up the ball in a terrible spot. Lloris repeatedly looked cool under pressure, and the veteran goalkeeper also opened up a new facet of LAFC's attack with impressive distribution on a series of long passes to his forwards.
“I think we couldn't start in a better way,” Lloris said. “The most important thing was to get the three points. We are still working on our physical level and we suffered the last 20 minutes, but with the help of the public we were able to win.”
Although he is still learning the tendencies of his teammates while also adjusting to family life in suburban Encino, Lloris is already having a significant impact on LAFC's plans for the season.
“Their first game was very clean,” said LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo. “Major saves. Just a solid rock for us. A sense of security when he's there. He's taking advantage of years and years of experience playing at a high level. His decision making with the ball will make us a lot better.”
Tillman put LAFC ahead in the 45th minute with a mid-air cross from Omar Campos, the 21-year-old Mexican left back signed in January from Santos Laguna as a possible replacement for Diego Palacios.
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Bogusz doubled LAFC's lead in the 55th minute with a beautiful curling shot into the far top corner. The 22-year-old Polish forward scored just three goals in 28 games for LAFC last year.
Seattle received its penalty several minutes after Aaron Long and Morris made contact at the top of the LAFC box, and Long received a very late yellow card. He was converted by De la Vega, who joined Seattle as a designated player in January for a hefty transfer fee from Lanús in his native Argentina.
Andrew Thomas made his MLS debut as goalkeeper for Seattle.
LAFC began a new season by playing its first game without Carlos Vela, the franchise's first player and 2018 MLS MVP. The Mexican star remains at home unsigned, but LAFC hopes to find a way to overcome the labyrinthine MLS salary rules to bring him back.
LAFC is also back without left back Palacios and center back Giorgio Chiellini. Chiellini, who was honored by his retirement before the game, is now a player development coach for LAFC.
Associated Press reporting contributed to this report.
