MIAMI, Feb 25, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Former France captain Hugo Lloris enjoyed victory on his Major League Soccer debut as Los Angeles FC defeated the Seattle Sounders 2-1 in their opening game of the season on Saturday.

France's 2018 World Cup winner Lloris made a key early save as the 2022 MLS Cup winners triumphed in a re-match of last year's Western Conference semi-finals.

Lloris, who moved to Los Angeles from Tottenham in December, was brought into action in just the third minute, producing a fine reflex save to deny Jordan Morris.

French-born Gabon international Denis Bouanga, the league's top-scorer last season, was a constant threat to the Seattle defence, seeing a shot cleared off the line and then hitting the bar with a deflected effort.

But Los Angeles got in front on the stroke of half-time when Mexican Omar Campos got to the byline and whipped in a cross which was expertly volleyed home by Timothy Tillman.

Polish midfielder Mateusz Bogusz doubled the lead with a super strike into the top corner from the edge of the box on 55 minutes.

Seattle gave themselves a lifeline when Jordan Morris was ruled, after a VAR review, to have been brought down by Aaron Long. Argentine Pedro de la Vega, who had made his debut as a substitute just five minutes earlier, confidently slotted home the spot kick.

LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said Lloris had clearly added his qualities amd experience to the team who lost Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini to retirement in the off-season.

- 'Steady rock' -

"He's just kind of a steady rock for us, a sense of security. All the players feel it when he's there, which is very important. His decision-making is going to make us a lot better and then he's also somebody who can come up with a big save," said the former USA international.

Lloris, who rarely featured in his last year at Tottenham, said he was still finding his feet.

"We are still in the process of getting to know each other. But I feel good," he said.

"I know that physically I am not 100 percent yet and I need to get the rhythm of competition because it's been ten months now," he added.

Elsewhere on Saturday, reigning MLS champions Columbus Crew made a positive start to their title defence with a 1-0 win over Atlanta United.

French coach Wilfried Nancy led the Crew to an MLS Cup triumph over LAFC in December and has kept his squad largely intact as they seek their third title in five years.

Hernandez fired the Crew ahead in the 27th minute after Diego Rossi got behind the Atlanta defence and fired over a low cross which the striker buried with a right-foot drive.

Columbus had a great chance to double their lead, nine minutes after the interval, when Mohamed Farsi broke into the box and was barged over by Stian Gregersen.

After a lengthy VAR review, the penalty was given only for Hernandez to see his effort superbly saved by veteran former USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan diving to his right.

Former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith earned three points from his first match in charge of Charlotte thanks to a 1-0 win over New York City FC.

Adilson Malanda nodded in the 8th minute goal after Iuri Tavares' glancing header from a corner had come down off the bar and although Kerwin Vargas missed a second half penalty, Smith's side held on for the win.

Belgian Christian Benteke, the former Liverpool striker, scored a hat-trick for D.C. United as they beat the New England Revolution 3-1.

The Chicago Fire were poised for a surprise victory at Eastern Conference powerhouse Philadelphia before a stoppage-time header from Hungarian Daniel Gazdag earned the Union a 2-2 draw.

A beautiful strike from outside the box from Brian Gutierrez, who cut in from the left before blasting into the far corner, had put Chicago ahead in the 39th minute.

Mikael Uhre brought the Union level but Fabian Herbers' close-range effort looked to have grabbed the win for Chicago before Gazdag headed in Jose Martinez's cross near the death.