TMZ: LAFC Star Kellyn Acosta's Watches Stolen from Home; Police Consider 'Inside Job'
Feb 22, 2023
CARSON, CA - JANUARY 28: Kellyn Acosta #23 of the United States during a game between Colombia and USMNT at Dignity Health Sports Park on January 28, 2023 in Carson, California. (Photo by Jenny Chuang/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Football Club star Kellyn Acosta had three watches stolen from his house last week.
Per TMZ Sports, the thieves broke into Acosta's home in Los Angeles and "allegedly rummaged through the house" before making off with three of his Rolex watches.
TMZ noted the watches appear to be the only items taken, and police are not ruling out the possibility that this was an "inside job." The situation is still being investigated.
Acosta has not commented on the incident.
The 27-year-old Acosta is entering his second season with LAFC. He appeared in 32 of the club's 34 games in 2022, scoring two goals. LAFC won the MLS Cup for the first time, defeating the Philadelphia Union in the final.
Prior to joining L.A., Acosta had stints with FC Dallas and the Colorado Rapids. The Texas native has scored 18 career goals in MLS play.
Acosta has also been a member of the United States men's national team since 2016. He played in his first FIFA World Cup last year, appearing in games against Iran and Wales in the group stage.
Acosta and L.A. will begin their defense of the MLS Cup title on Saturday against the L.A. Galaxy.
LAFC Tops Forbes List of MLS Team Values; 1st Billion Dollar Franchise
Feb 2, 2023
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 5: Carlos Vela #10 of Los Angeles FC raises the MLS Cup after Los Angeles won the MLS Cup Final game between Philadelphia Union and Los Angeles FC at Banc of California Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rob Ericson/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Los Angeles FC became the first MLS club to receive a valuation of $1 billion by Forbes after the outlet published its projected values for each of the league's member teams.
The Los Angeles Galaxy are hot on the heels of their crosstown rivals at $925 million. Atlanta United FC ($850 million), New York City FC ($800 million) and D.C. United ($700 million) rounded out the top five.
Forbes' Justin Birnbaum noted the average valuation of an MLS club has grown by 85 percent since the outlet last performed the exercise in 2019. Four years ago, Atlanta United carried the highest dollar figure at $500 million. This time around, Nashville SC has the same evaluation and cracked the list at No. 18.
Granted, MLS still has a long way to go to keep pace with the top clubs in Europe.
According to the Deloitte Football Money League, Manchester City generated revenue of €731 million in 2022. Forbes, meanwhile, valued Real Madrid as the most expensive soccer club in the world at $5.1 billion last May.
Still, MLS has come a long way and appears to already be seeing the effects of its new media rights deal with Apple. The two sides agreed to a 10-year, $2.5 billion contract that begins with the upcoming season.
The $250 million annual payout is more than double the $90 million MLS collectively received from ESPN, Fox Sports and Univision on its last deal.
Gareth Bale, LAFC Beat Philadelphia Union on Penalty Kicks to Win 2022 MLS Cup
Nov 5, 2022
Los Angeles FC defender Jesús Murillo (3), middle, celebrates after scoring a goal in the second half during the MLS Cup soccer match against the Philadelphia Union, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
For the first time in club history, Los Angeles FC are winners of the MLS Cup after defeating the Philadelphia Union 3-0 on penalty kicks Saturday in front of their home crowd at Banc of California Stadium.
With the match tied 3-3 through extra time, it was sent to penalty kicks to determine a winner, and Denis Bouanga, Ryan Hollingshead and Ilie Sánchez all made their kicks to power the Black and Gold to victory.
John McCarthy, who came on in relief of an injured Maxime Crépeau in extra time, was also brilliant in stopping all of Philadelphia's penalties. He went on to be named MLS Cup MVP.
LAFC kicked things off early, taking a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute on a free kick just outside the penalty area.
The Black and Gold were awarded the free kick after Union midfielder José Martínez was whistled for a foul, and Kellyn Acosta sent a shot into the bottom left corner of the goal to give LAFC a 1-0 lead.
LAFC took a 1-0 lead into the locker room at halftime, but the Philadelphia Union were quick to respond in the second half when Dániel Gazdag found the back of the net from inside the penalty area in the 59th minute, making it a 1-1 game.
LAFC were in good position to win the game in 90 minutes when Jesús Murillo broke the tie in the 83rd minute on a header off a corner kick that sailed past Union goalkeeper Andre Blake.
However, Philadelphia fought back again to tie the game 2-2 in the 85th minute when Jack Elliott scored on a header inside the box off a free kick that was awarded after LAFC's José Cifuentes was whistled for a foul.
With the game tied 2-2, it went to extra time, where chaos ensued in the 110th minute as LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau collided with Cory Burke while rushing out of the net to prevent a goal.
Crépeau was initially given a yellow card before being shown the red card in the 116th minute. He was carted off the field because of injury, and the Black and Gold were forced to play down a man for the remainder of the match.
John McCarthy came on in relief of Crépeau.
Burke was also subbed off in the 120th minute because of injury. He was replaced by Chris Donovan.
The Union went on to score the tiebreaker in the 124th minute when Elliott scored his second of the game following a corner kick. It looked like Elliott's goal was going to be the game winner—then Gareth Bale happened.
Bale, who was subbed on in extra time, tied the game 3-3 for LAFC in the 128th minute on a brilliant header from inside the box. His goal sent the game to penalty kicks.
LAFC's win on penalty kicks capped off an impressive 2022 season that saw them finish first in the Western Conference with a 21-4-9 record, tying the Union for the most points in MLS with 67.
Report: Former Real Madrid Star Gareth Bale Finalizing Contract with MLS' LAFC
Jun 25, 2022
ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - JUNE 14: Gareth Bale of Wales during the UEFA Nations League League A Group 4 match between Wales and Netherlands at Feijenoord Stadion on June 14, 2022 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)
Longtime La Liga and English Premier League star Gareth Bale is reportedly set to come stateside.
According to
MLSSoccer.com's Tom Bogert, the 32-year-old Bale and LAFC are finalizing a deal that will see him land with the MLS club once his contract with Real Madrid expires at the end of June.
Bogert added that Bale's contract with LAFC is expected to be one year in length and will run through June 2023.
World football reporter Fabrizio Romano confirmed Bogert's report and added that it will be a free transfer.
The 32-year-old Bale has spent his entire professional career playing in England and Spain. He made his debut with then-English Football League Championship side Southampton in 2006 before making the move to Tottenham Hotspur in the EPL the following year.
After scoring 72 goals and recording 60 assists for Spurs over 237 appearances, Bale moved to La Liga's Real Madrid for a then-world-record transfer fee of $132.9 million. He played for Los Blancos from 2013 until now, although he did go back to Tottenham on loan during the 2020-21 campaign.
Across all competitions, Bale has 183 career goals, including 106 with Madrid, where he won five UEFA Champions League titles, three La Liga titles and one Copa del Rey.
Individually, he has also won the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award in England, one Premier League Player of the Season award and six Welsh Footballer of the Year awards.
While Bale hasn't been a dominant player at club level for some time, he did manage 16 goals in 34 matches for Tottenham in 2020-21, and he played a sizable role in leading Wales to a berth in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Wales beat Ukraine on June 5 to secure their place in Qatar, where Bale could sign off from a legendary international career that has seen him score 39 goals in 106 appearances and lead the team to its first World Cup appearance since 1958.
There was speculation Bale could consider retiring if Wales hadn't made the World Cup, but with qualification secured it seemed certain he would carry on playing until at least the end of the tournament in late 2022.
Bale will join a long line of international stars who decided to play in the United States late in their careers, including Pele, David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, David Villa and Wayne Rooney.
LAFC began play in MLS in 2018 and reached the playoffs in each of their first three seasons before missing out in 2021. They are currently top of the Western Conference Standings with 30 points a 9-3-3 record.
LAFC's Carlos Vela Named 2019 MLS MVP over Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Nov 4, 2019
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 25: Carlos Vela #10 of Los Angeles FC celebrates his goal during Los Angeles FC's MLS match against Los Angeles Galaxy at the Banc of California Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The match ended in a 3-3 draw. (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images)
Carlos Vela has been named the 2019 Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player after a record-breaking season with LAFC:
The Mexican scooped 69 per cent of the weighted vote to take top spot ahead of LA Galaxy's Zlatan Ibrahimovic with 14 per cent and Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez in third on six per cent.
Vela netted 34 goals in 31 regular-season appearances for LAFC as well as contributing 15 assists to pick up the award for the first time in his career.
The striker's exploits helped LAFC top the Western Conference table with 72 points, a massive 16 points ahead of second-placed Seattle Sounders. They also netted 85 goals in what was a record-breaking campaign:
LAFC ran away with the Supporters' Shield and enjoyed a thrilling 5-3 win over the Galaxy in the Western Conference play-off semi-final, with Vela scoring twice.
However, there will be no MLS Cup for Bob Bradley's team after they were beaten 3-1 by Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference final, just their second defeat in 2019.
Major League Soccer offered some highlights of their campaign:
Vela's goals this season also saw him become the highest scoring Mexican player in MLS history, and he is also the first Mexican to scoop the MLS MVP award.
LAFC noted how Vela compares with recent MVP winners:
There is no doubt that Vela has thrived since arriving at LAFC in January 2018 ahead of their first season in MLS. He had previously enjoyed spells in the Premier League with Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion, and in La Liga at Real Sociedad, Osasuna and Celta Vigo.
Vela also landed the MLS Golden Boot in 2019, beating Ibrahimovic to the trophy. His MVP award also follows on from Bradley being named the 2019 MLS Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year in October.
Los Angeles FC's Adama Diomande Says He Suffered Racist Abuse in Portland Match
Jul 19, 2018
Los Angeles FC forward Adama Diomande (99) of Norway, inactions during an international friendly soccer game between Los Angeles FC and Borussia Dortmund in Los Angeles, Tuesday, May 22, 2018. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Los Angeles FC star Adama Diomande has said he suffered racist abuse during his team's match with the Portland Timbers on Wednesday.
After the U.S. Open Cup contest, which LAFC won 3-2, the 28-year-old posted a message on his Instagram account revealing the nature of the insult he heard during the game:
"Today was the first day in my professional career that I was called the 'N' word on the field. They will say sorry to me after the game and please let it go, but if I don't say anything racism will just continue to grow.
"No matter which country, color, religion or which language you're speaking we all are human being and we should respect each other no matter what!"
KeithCostiganof Fox Sports found the allegations troubling:
Troubling to hear Of racial abuse directed towards Adama Diomande tonight in the LAFC Timbers game. I hope @MLS gets to the bottom of this ASAP.
The Norway international has enjoyed an excellent start to life in Major League Soccer since joining LAFC in May.
He has made six MLS starts along with two substitute appearances and has already scored an impressive nine goals, including a hat-trick in the 4-1 win over Philadelphia Union.
Diomandehas been crucial to the team's excellent form as they march towards the playoffs in their debutMLScampaign. With 19 games played, they sit in second spot in the Western Conference, three points behind leaders FC Dallas.
James Corden Plays 'Target Practice' with LAFC Players on 'Late Late Show'
May 3, 2018
CARSON, CA - MARCH 31: Fans of LAFC during the MLS match between Los Angeles FC and Los Angeles Galaxy at StubHub Center on March 31, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Football Club played its first home game in franchise history on Sunday, and five players were given the opportunity to shine under the bright lights of television Wednesday with an appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden.
As the show shared on its YouTube page, Tyler Miller, Jordan Harvey, Walker Zimmerman, Mark-Anthony Kaye and Steven Beitashour peppered host James Corden with shots. However, it was part-owner and actor Will Ferrell who turned the most heads when he nailed the target strategically placed to protect Corden on his first try.
LAFC opened Banc of California Stadium on Sunday with a 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders.
While Ferrell adds an air of celebrity to the club given his status as a part-owner, former United States men's national team coach Bob Bradley serves as the team's head coach in its first year.
LAFC Threatens Fans with Ban After Homophobic Chant vs. Sounders
May 1, 2018
In this photo taken with a fisheye lens, a flag flies at the new Banc of California Stadium prior to an MLS soccer game between Los Angeles FC and the Seattle Sounders in Los Angeles, Sunday, April 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
The Los Angeles Football Club is threatening to ban fans from its home games if they continue to use a gay slur during games.
Per TMZ Sports, fans at Banc of California Stadium were chanting a Spanish-language slur during Sunday's game between LAFC and the Seattle Sounders.
"The offensive goal kick chant is wrong and not what we are about," LAFC officials said in a statement to TMZ. "We ask that all of our fans and Supporters work to hold each other accountable to eliminate this from Banc of California Stadium."
During the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Jim Buzinski of OutSports.com explained the translation of the word "p--o" and how it is used in an offensive and demeaning way.
"The word is slang for 'f-g' or 'man whore' or 'coward,'" Buzinski wrote. "Some say its use in soccer is a cultural phrase that means cowardly and is not directed at gays, but the meaning is clearly designed to mock the opponent as weak and unmanly."
MLS commissioner Don Garber, who attended Sunday's LAFC game, said the league will put a stop to fans using the derogatory term in the stands.
"It shouldn't happen, and it will stop," he said, via Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times. "We are not just concerned about it. It defies everything we stand for. I've spoken to ownership during the game. They get it. And I have real confidence that it'll stop."
