Three goals by Carlos Vela and a dominant team effort produced a resounding victory for the Los Angeles Football Club in its 2022 season opener.

The 3-0 win over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday afternoon at Banc of California pushed LAFC’s record on opening day to 5-0, and delivered new head coach Steven Cherundolo his first three points with the Black & Gold.

Vela gave LAFC the lead in the 29th minute on a penalty kick.

Mamadou Fall had stepped in to intercept a pass then pushed the ball forward to Vela, who redirected into the box toward midfielder Kellyn Acosta. The American international’s cross immediately hit the hand of Rapids defender Lalas Abubakar and referee Armando Villarreal pointed to the spot.

Six minutes later, Vela secured goal No. 2 when midfielder Jose Cifuentes created a turnover and lofted the ball over the top to the Mexican forward. With Abubakar on his back, Vela kept the ball on his feet long enough to dribble into the box and sneak the ball past Colorado goalkeeper William Yarbrough.

Early in the second half Vela completed his hat trick – his third with the club and the seventh in LAFC history – giving him 60 goals in MLS regular-season competition.

Transitioning into the attack, Ilie Sanchez received a line-drive pass from goalkeeper Maxime Crepau. The Spaniard chested the ball down, fed it to Cifuentes, who one-touched it to Vela up the right side for his second assist of the match.

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The LAFC captain walked down a defender and a step inside the box used his world-class left foot to guide the ball into the net at the far post.

Crepeau, acquired in a trade with Vancouver earlier this month, was rarely placed under pressure by the Rapids. The Canadian international needed one save to earn a clean-sheet in his LAFC debut.

More to come on this story.