LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giorgio Chiellini garnered medals, trophies and rewards for his nine straight Italian Serie A titles with Juventus. But he had never gotten a championship ring.
Thus, the Italian defender stared in wonder at his gold and black ring, which accredits him as champion of the league with Los Angeles FC.
“It was a little weird for me,” he said with a laugh. “But it was kind of nice.
And then the 38-year-old star showed he wants to get another.
Chiellini scored his first MLS goal, Carlos Vela and Mahala Opoku added goals and LAFC began its MLS title defense on Saturday with a 3-2 win over the Portland Timbers.
In a packed stadium, LAFC unfurled their title commemorative banners. The players also received their championship rings in a lively pre-game ceremony.
“It was something very nice, which I will always remember,” Chiellini said. “But after the celebration we had to play, and we did very well in the first 60 minutes. We have to learn from the mistakes we made in the last 30 minutes.”
Last year, Chiellini reached the middle of the season and appeared in 11 games. He has now shone at the beginning of his second campaign, with great defensive work and his first goal in any competition since August 2019, when he was a member of Juve.
He opened the scoring after 24 minutes, deflecting a ball into the net in the area with the outside of the booty.
“He was the best player on the court tonight,” LAFC manager Steve Cherundolo said. “He was a step ahead of everyone else. It’s fun to watch, a privilege as a coach.”
Gareth Bale, the recently retired Welsh star, brought the MLS Cup onto the pitch, along with injured goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau. It was four months ago when the Los Angeles team was crowned in this same venue.
Vela coolly converted a penalty in the 34th minute after Opoku was fouled in the box. Opoku scored at 52.
Brazilian Evander scored his first MLS goal with Portland, and Paraguayan Cristhian Paredes added a late goal for the Timbers, who nevertheless lost for the third time in a row to LAFC.
Also on Saturday, Argentina’s Lucas Zelarayán scored a first-half brace as the Columbus Crew defeated DC United 2-0.
Another who got two goals was Jesús Ferreira. The Colombian-American scored twice in the second half as FC Dallas beat the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1.
In other matches, the New England Revolution thrashed the Houston Dynamo 3-0, with a goal from Colombian Dylan Borrero; Austin beat Montreal 1-0 with a goal from Argentina’s Maximiliano Urruti in the 88th minute.
In addition, Inter Miami defeated the Philadelphia Union 2-0; Atlanta United drew 1-1 against Toronto, the same result as the duel between the Chicago Fire and New York City FC.
St. Louis City beat Charlotte 3-1; the San Jose Earthquakes beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1, and the Seattle Sounders beat Real Salt Lake 2-0.
Nashville drew 0-0 against the New York Red Bulls, as did Orlando City and Cincinnati. Also goalless ended the duel between the Colorado Rapids and Sporting Kansas City.
