LOS ANGELES >> For all of their success last season, the Los Angeles Football Club tended to break slow out of the starting gate.

On Saturday afternoon, after diamond-clad rings commemorating its MLS Cup win over the Philadelphia Union were distributed and banners located in the rafters at the east side of BMO Stadium were unveiled, LAFC asserted itself early and stayed in front of the Portland Timbers through the finish line.

Goals from Giorgio Chiellini, his first in MLS, and captain Carlos Vela, his 70th regular-season finish, plus a second-half game-winner by Mahala Opoku propelled LAFC to a 3-2 “opening day” victory after inclement weather pushed their anticipated Week 1 match against the Galaxy to July 4.

The result marked six straight season-opening wins for LAFC, equaling FC Dallas for the MLS record.

En route to winning the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup last year, LAFC relied on impressive depth to overrun teams late in games, outscoring opponents 45-15 compared to a negative-two goal differential prior to the break. As the Black & Gold resumed competition for the first time since lifting the trophy in November, they are keen on taking control of matches from the outset.

“For us our focus is on having complete games because when we have complete games we’re really tough to play against,” midfielder Kellyn Acosta said. “And we’ve gotta be on the front foot right away and take the game to other teams and play with confidence and keep building from there.”

Impressive starts to both halves were undercut by LAFC’s lack of rhythm following their extended preseason and the challenge of playing 90 minutes while pressuring opponents as high up the field as possible.

Coach Steve Cherundolo removed Vela and midfielder Ilie Sanchez, playing with a yellow card, following the hour mark while eyeing a quick turnaround for the first leg of CONCACAF Champions League Round of 16 play on Thursday against Alajuelense in Costa Rica.

Chiellini’s contribution in the first half made the 38-year-old Italian defender the oldest player to score his first MLS goal.

“For me, he was the best player on the field,” Cherundolo said. “He was a step ahead of everyone else and that goes a long way.”

The defender noted that in training Friday he scored three times off similar set-piece scenarios.

“As we train we play,” Chiellini said following his first goal since 2019. “I prefer to win with a clean sheet than score a goal, to be honest.”

Vela converted his 18 penalty in 22 attempts with LAFC nine minutes after Chiellini found the net, capitalizing on a foul on Mahala, who is expected to start regularly in 2023.

“Was I looking for it? Of course,” Mahala said. “When you’re in the box you need to find a way to help the team and get something from it.”

The 22-year-old Ghanaian tacked on LAFC’s third goal in the 52nd minute, ensuring his side’s wire-to-wire performance despite the Timber’s late attempt to claw back.

Portland’s high-profile Designated Player from Brazil, 24-year-old Evander, hit a pretty one-timer for his first MLS goal an hour into the match. The Timbers cut their deficit to one in the 84th minute when Cristhian Parades cleaned up a loose ball in front of LAFC keeper John McCarthy, who leapt out of goal and missed his attempt at knocking away a corner kick.

“All very normal the first game of the season, so nothing alarming but glad we came away with three points because that was the most important thing today,” Cherundolo said. “It gives us a lot to build off of.”