LAFC wins second straight match at RSL’s expense

It truly feels the Son and Bouanga show is back on for LAFC.

For a second consecutive match, Son-Heung Min and Denis Bouanga found the back net, and LAFC once again were the beneficiary of the duo’s performances. Son got LAFC going with an early first half goal, Bouanga struck at a crucial point late in the half, and LAFC, despite getting out-shot 28-11 in the match, still went on to the 3-0 win over Real Salt Lake at BMO Stadium.

The goal was not the only contribution for Son in the match. Son was also credited with an assist on Bouanga’s goal, but more importantly, played the ball that resulted in LAFC’s third goal, and Son’s performance on Wednesday night is only further fueling excitement amongst the Black and Gold faithful of a second-half surge for Son, which could ultimately benefit LAFC.

It took LAFC a mere 11 minutes to get going. Nkosi Tafari sent a long ball forward, Jacob Shaffelburg touched a ball forward and would have drawn a foul, but the ball went to Son, so advantage was played. Son dribbled to the top of the penalty area, then fired a left-footed shot just outside the 18-yard box that beat keeper Rafael Cabral near post for LAFC’s first goal of the night.

LAFC then got a second goal at an ideal time, just before the second half. Mathieu Choiniere sprung Bouanga down the left side, Bouanga went one-on-one with DeAndre Yedlin, Bouanga made a cutting move inside, evaded an challenge from Yedlin and fired a right-footed shot past Cabral into the back net to double the LAFC advantage just before halftime.

Then came the goal that basically ended the match. It came in the 68th minute, as Ryan Hollingshead played a perfect ball to David Martinez on the right side, Martinez then sprung Son into the penalty area, Son, perhaps seeing an unmarked Bouanga on his left side, played ball of his right foot, Yedlin cut off the cross, but the ball continued forward, and with Cabral already committed to one side, the ball went into the back net for an RSL own goal and a 3-0 LAFC lead. The only blemish on the night for LAFC was an Real Salt Lake goal, scored by Luks Engel in the 86th minute, as he volleyed a Saba Lobjanidze corner kick off Tafari into the back net to prevent the shutout, though LAFC was still able to get the three points.

LAFC (17-9-5, 30 points) not only put some distance between them and RSL for third place in the conference, but also climbed to within two points of the two side currently tied for first, the San Jose Earthquakes and the Vancouver Whitecaps. LAFC is back at it on Saturday as they face Sporting Kansas City.