LAFC sweeps Austin FC, readies for Vancouver

Having survived a game one scare last Wednesday night, LAFC came into game two of its best-of-three series with Austin FC looking for a better start.

LAFC got just that, and its two stars led the way. Son Heung-Min again started off the night for LAFC and Denis Bouanga virtually finished off the night and the series for LAFC, as he followed with a brace, and a late goal by Jeremy Ebobissie propelled LAFC into the Western Conference semifinals with a 4-1 win at Q2 Stadium.

The win secures the sweep for LAFC, who will now have some time off before preparing for a major test, as they will travel to British Columbia to face the Vancouver Whitecaps in the conference semifinals.

LAFC’s first goal, which came in the 21st minute, started with its defense. Bouanga stole a ball from Mikkel Desler, then after a few touches, spring Son down the left side, Son eventually caught up to the ball and dribbled all the way into the penalty area. Son was marked by Ilie Sanchez, but Son chose to keep the ball outside, then fired a left-footed shot that beat keeper Brad Stuver far post to open the scoring for LAFC.

It then became the Denis Bouanga show. Bouanga got his first goal in the 24th minute, as Sergi Palencia sprung Son, this time on the right side. Stuver actually came off his line and out of the penalty area, Son got the ball past Stuver, but the Austin defense recovered, and forced Son to play a ball to Bouanga, who after a quick touch, and also noticing Stuver and the Austin defense still scrambling to protect their goal, Bouanga slotted a right-footed shot into the open net to double the LAFC advantage. Austin did have a chance to get on the scoresheet themselves when a free kick by Owen Wolff deflected off the hand of Bouanga inside the penalty area, giving Austin the penalty, Myrto Uzuni stepped up to the penalty spot in the 39th minute and shot to his left, but LAFC keeper Hugo Lloris guessed right, and scooped up the ball without any rebound chances. Bouanga eventually made Austin pay for that missed penalty in the 45th minute, as Ryan Porteous sent a long ball to Ryan Hollingshead, who then headed a ball to Bouanga inside the penalty area, and Bouanga first fought off Oleksandr Svatok’s challenge, deked Brendan Himes-Ike to the ground, then finished the play with a right-footed shot past Stuver into the back net for a 3-0 LAFC advantage.

Austin however was afforded an opportunity to atone for the missed penalty in stoppage time, as VAR determined that Porteuos swung and hit Guilherme Biro during a challenge inside the penalty area, and Austin was again headed to the penalty spot. This time, it was Dani Pereira whos stepped up and this time, he succeeded, as he sent the penalty to his right, and while Lloris again guessed right again, he did not get enough of the ball to stop the shot, as the ball went into the back net to pull a goal back for Austin. LAFC however managed to hold Austin down throughout the second half, and Ebobissie put a bow on the match and the series with a stoppage time goal in the 93rd minute.