Gareth Bale Scores His First Goal For MLS Side LAFC, It Could Be The First Of Many

Gareth Bale has opened his account for his new club Los Angeles FC on only his second appearance for the MLS side.

Bale, 33, signed a one-year deal with LAFC last month after coming to the end of his previous contract at Real Madrid.

The Wales captain made his debut in the MLS earlier this month, coming off the bench to help LAFC beat Nashville.

And he grabbed his first goal for LAFC on Sunday as they beat Sporting Kansas City 2-0.

Bale again started the match from the bench as he continues to work his way back to full fitness.

He was introduced in the 65^th minute with LAFC already leading 1-0 thanks to a second-half goal from Eddie Segura.

Bale would go on to seal victory for the Western Conference leaders with low finish in the 85^th minute after being played in by teammate Christian Arango.

Speaking after the match, Bale said: "The most important thing was we won the game, first and foremost.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @GarethBale11 OPENS HIS LAFC ACCOUNT!!!#SKCvLAFC 0-2 pic.twitter.com/bcMHI59GgG

— LAFC (@LAFC) July 24, 2022

The first of many. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🐉 #LAFC | @GarethBale11 pic.twitter.com/XVFTG7Szkz

— LAFC (@LAFC) July 24, 2022

"We all knew the first half maybe wasn't good enough, but the manager had another great team talk and got us going.

"It was a great finish by Chicho [Arango] and it was nice to come on and grab a goal to help the team and to get the three points, so from a personal point of view, it's nice to get off the mark and more importantly, get the three points." 

Asked how he was settling in at his new club, Bale added: "The transition has been just kind of normal and what I expected. It's going to take some time – I would be in pre-season now in Europe, so I'm getting my fitness back up quickly.

"It was nice to come on and grab a goal to help the team get three points."

🎙️ @GarethBale11 #LAFC pic.twitter.com/tHdzaOGNw4

— LAFC (@LAFC) July 24, 2022

"The club is doing an amazing job to kind of progress me and not pushing me too quick, so I'm starting to feel better and better each day as training goes on and I was glad to contribute tonight.

"I'm enjoying it here. Everybody at the club has made me feel very welcome very quickly and I feel very settled straight away, and I think any player will tell you if they feel happy and settled, they start to play their best football."

LAFC are now four points clear at the top of the Western Conference after their victory over Kansas City.

They next face Seattle Sounders on Saturday, when Bale could make his first start for the club.