LAFC open new stadium with late Laurent Ciman winner to beat the Seattle Sounders

Laurent Ciman scored on a free kick in the third minute of stoppage time, and LAFC opened its $350 million Banc of California Stadium with a stunning 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders on Sunday night.

Tyler Miller made three saves to earn the shutout for LAFC, but the Major League Soccer expansion team seemed headed to its first scoreless draw in the first home game in franchise history before its Belgian captain lined up a free kick in the final minute of play.

Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei crouched to make the save after Ciman's kick cleared the wall, but Frei simply couldn't hang on. The ball hit the net and electrified the sellout crowd of 22,000.

Those mostly black-and-gold-clad fans serenaded LAFC throughout the first game in its beautiful new home.

With an exciting young lineup watched by an ownership group including Magic Johnson and Will Ferrell, LAFC failed on numerous second-half scoring chances before it managed to christen its sparkling arena with a memorable victory. The players gathered in front of the North End supporters' section afterward, singing and dancing while black-and-gold smoke poured out of the joyous stands.

Even before Ciman's theatrics, the evening was a celebration of the latest milestone in the four-year journey of LAFC, which gained MLS admission as an expansion franchise in late 2014 and steadily built a club with global ambitions.

A diverse ownership group including Asian billionaires and American entertainers and sports celebrities built a privately funded stadium and a suburban training facility while putting together a roster with plans for immediate trophy contention.