Carlos Vela made his return this Sunday for Los Angeles FC (LAFC), and the Californian team celebrated the Mexican star’s comeback with a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps in the first round of the MLS playoffs.

In this best-of-three series, LAFC took the lead with a penalty goal by Denis Bouanga and a skillful finish by Uruguayan Cristian Olivera after a stunning cross-field team play orchestrated by head coach Steve Cherundolo’s squad.

The Whitecaps found the net in the 94th minute, courtesy of Ryan Gauld, but with little time left to chase an equalizer.

Beyond the victory, the highlight of the night at Los Angeles' BMO Stadium was the 86th-minute appearance of Vela, marking his first game since December 9, 2023, when LAFC lost the MLS Cup final to Columbus Crew.

On September 16, LAFC announced Vela's return. The 35-year-old, who has been the heart and soul of the team since its founding in 2018, had taken time away from the field, leaving questions about his future after his contract expired at the end of last year.

Vela has achieved a remarkable record with LAFC, including an MLS Cup (2022) and two Supporters' Shields (2019, 2022). In 2019, he had a sensational season, earning the league MVP and Golden Boot.