Choiniere leads LAFC past St. Louis

It appears that one strategy for stopping LAFC is becoming more and more moot as each week passes.

Going into the season, the blueprint for stopping LAFC was clear; mark out its forward tandem of Denis Bouanga and Son-Heung Min, and at the very least, you have a shot to win, or at least get a point.

However, with each passing week, that strategy appears to be waning, as different players have scored goals over the course of LAFC’s three MLS matches as we as its three CONCACAF Champions Cup matches. Mathieu Choiniere was the latest unlikely hero for LAFC on Saturday night, as his two long range volleys for goals late in the second half enabled LAFC to hold off a feisty St. Louis City FC squad, and get the three points courtesy of its 2-0 win at BMO Stadium.

Choiniere got the start on Saturday night, his first in his career, as LAFC is strategically managing its roster very carefully over this next week in an effort to conserve energy for Tuesday’s all-important second leg of its CONCACAF Champions Cup quaterfinal matchup with LD Alajualense on Tuesday night. Nevertheless, Chioniere seized the opportunity, and became the seventh different player aside from Bouanga and Son to find the back net for LAFC in this young 2026 season.

“I think the coaches give us all the confidence we need to move forward, Choinière said. “We know those guys are going to attract people, so we’re going to have space in front of us.”

Scoreless after 72 minutes, Choiniere broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute. Choiniere pounced on an errant pass by St. Louis’ Daniel Edelman and broke for goal, then dribbled about 15 yards all the way to the top of the St. Louis penalty area, then fired a right-footed shot from about 24 yards out that snuck past keeper Roman Burki at the far post to give LAFC the lead. Choiniere doubled the advantage for LAFC in the 81st minute in almost the same fashion, as following a corner kick, LAFC worked the ball around St. Louis’ side of the field,  the ball came to Choiniere, and he again saw a sightline, this time from his right side just outside the penalty area, and again, he unloaded with a right-footed shot that got past Burki and slotted into the back post net for goal number two, essentially sealing the three points there for LAFC.

“When you train something, and you get that touch, you get that feeling every single time,” Choinière said. “In training, we’re spending time on this. When it comes to games, it’s just natural.”

Both teams did have chances to score in the first half. St. Louis actually did find the back net early in the half, but the goal was called back due to a foul call. LAFC’s best chance to score came in the 40th minute, as Nathan Ordaz fired a left-footed shot inside the penalty area that got past Burki, but not only bounced off the near post, but also went off Burki, and his teammate, Jazeil Orozco, touched a ball back to Burki, allowing him to collect the ball.