David Martínez lifts LAFC past Dallas

Martínez scores the game’s lone goal, and Hugo Lloris helps LAFC open the season with a third straight shutout victory.

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Mar 8, 2026 - 06:18
David Martínez lifts LAFC past Dallas
  • LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, top, deflects the ball against FC...
    LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, top, deflects the ball against FC Dallas during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
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LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, top, deflects the ball against FC Dallas during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
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LOS ANGELES — Born 19 years apart, the Los Angeles Football Club’s eldest player, Hugo Lloris, joined its youngest available option on Saturday, David Martínez, to deliver key performances that kept the Black & Gold’s perfect 2026 season intact.

A choppy contest yielded nervy moments for LAFC, especially early, but Marc Dos Santos’ side found its form as the match wore on to lock down a 1-0 victory and give the team nine points out of nine on the Major League Soccer calendar as they improved to 5-0-0 in all competitions.

Martínez, 20, was a dangerous threat for the 80 minutes he played, scoring a blistering game-winning goal from 25 yards out prior to the hour mark.

Lloris, 39, made as many saves in the opening half hour of the match as he had in the three previous matches he started so far, finishing with five stops by the final whistle.

Lloris showed off his reflexes for his third save of the opening half. After punching away a corner kick, Lloris knocked a laser off the left foot of Bernard Kamungo over the crossbar in front of an announced crowd of 22,130 at BMO Stadium.

Shortly after the break, Lloris stopped talented Dallas forward Logan Farrington, who skirted through the back line and took a chance deep inside the box that crashed off the goalkeeper’s chest.

The all-time French national team icon made his last save during seven minutes of stoppage time in the second half, denying Dallas forward Petar Musa’s first-time volley near the penalty spot with a two-handed diving parry.

Grinding to build out of the back and through the middle while Dallas (1-1-1, 4 points) kept a compact formation, LAFC (3-0-0, 9 points) looked less than sure about its approach for much of the first half.

Neither Son Hueng-min nor Denis Bouanga got on the score sheet for the team’s second straight match.

The Korean superstar played the full match, while Bouanga exited late.

Both had opportunities; Dallas goalkeeper Michael Collodi denied several shots to keep it competitive through the final whistle. In the 23rd minute, Collodi dove to prevent a Bouanga goal. He stuck his left leg out to deny Son in the 44th. Martínez, playing with ambition all night, nearly connected with Bouanga in the 70th. And Lloris, drilling a deep ball in the 79th minute, nearly combined with Son and Bouanga to score a second.

The taxing effort preceded Tuesday night’s CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 match at BMO Stadium against Costa Rican power Alajuelense.

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