Los Angeles FC (LAFC) showcased their resilience and attacking prowess, securing a thrilling 3-1 comeback victory against Sporting Kansas City (SKC) at the BMO Stadium. The match, played on Sunday night, saw Gabon international Denis Bouanga deliver a stellar performance, fueling LAFC's momentum ahead of the highly anticipated 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Bouanga's Brilliance Leads LAFC Comeback
Bouanga was the star of the show, contributing a goal and two assists. His performance echoed his crucial contributions in the recent FIFA Club World Cup play-in match against Club América, where he assisted the equalizer and scored the winning goal. Defender Eddie Segura praised Bouanga's impact, highlighting the team's corner kick practice as a key factor in their success.
SKC initially took the lead through Dejan Joveljić, but Segura equalized just before halftime with a header from a Bouanga corner. In the second half, Bouanga continued to torment the SKC defense, drawing a penalty which he confidently converted. Olivier Giroud sealed the victory with a late goal, assisted by Bouanga.
Key Moments from the Match:
- SKC's early lead through Dejan Joveljić
- Segura's equalizing header from a Bouanga corner before halftime
- Bouanga's penalty conversion to put LAFC ahead
- Giroud's late goal assisted by Bouanga, securing the win
LAFC's coach, Steve Cherundolo, emphasized the growing partnership between Bouanga and Giroud, noting its importance to the team's attacking dynamics. The victory extends LAFC's unbeaten run against Kansas City across all competitions and sets them up well for their upcoming Club World Cup participation.
Sporting Kansas City's interim head coach, Kerry Zavagnin, acknowledged LAFC's strength and experience, highlighting their proficiency in attacking set pieces. He also admitted his team struggled to create meaningful chances and maintain possession, pointing to areas for improvement on both the defensive and attacking fronts.