GARETH BALE opened his Major League Soccer goals account when he struck from the bench in his second appearance for new club Los Angeles FC.

The 33-year-old Wales international, who joined LAFC last month following the end of his nine-year stay at Real Madrid, found the back of the net for the first time in a 2-0 win over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday evening.

Bale secured the points seven minutes from time after Cristian Arango had opened the scoring for the visitors at Children’s Mercy Park.

He told the club’s official website: “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.”

Bale’s maiden strike came in trademark fashion as he cut inside from the right before firing home left-footed after being introduced with 25 minutes remaining.

He made his debut for the club, who currently sit at the top of the MLS Western Conference, in a 2-1 win at Nashville last weekend.