LAFC ends winless streak with win vs. Austin

Finally, after a string of losses or seeing potential wins turn into draws, LAFC finally got to celebrate a win on Wednesday night, and it was it’s two stars that carried the night.

Led by Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-min, LAFC finally rose to the occasion at BMO Stadium. Bouanga set the tome with a brace and Son slammed the door shut on Austin FC, and LAFC finally came out of a match with all three points following the 3-1 win at BMO Stadium.

While the win didn’t do much for LAFC as far as climbing up the Western Conference standings, Wednesday’s win does put the Black and Gold within striking distance of the teams currently above them in the West. LAFC (12-9-9, 45 points) remained in sixth place, but are a point back of the Houston Dynamo for fifth, two points back of San Jose Earthquakes for fourth and five points back of FC Dallas for third with four matches left to play.

After a scoreless 51 minutes, LAFC pulled ahead in the 52nd minute. Ryan Porteous intercepted a pass and headed a ball to Marky Delgado, who then played Son into the penalty area, Sin dribbled into the six-yard box, withstanding pressure from a pair of Austin defenders and still managed to play a ball to an unmarked Bouanga inside the six and Bouanga slotted the right-footed shot past keeper Brad Stuver far post to give LAFC the lead.

Austin however answered just moments later, as Myrto Uzuni played a ball perfectly to an unmarked Brandon Vasquez, who dribbled forward, took a right-footed shot at the top line of the 18-yard box that beat keeper Hugo Lloris for a 66th minute goal to level the match. However, just when it looked like it was going to be more of the same, LAFC caught a break just a minute later, and capitalized. Stuver looked to clear a ball out of the penalty area, but his clearance attempt instead deflected off Son and went right to Bouanga, who was unmarked inside the 18 and following a quick touch, Bouanga slotted a shot past Stuver into the back net to vault LAFC back in front. Son then virtually wrapped up the three points for LAFC in the 72nd minute, as he sprinted down middle late, Jacob Shaffelburg played a perfect cross to Son  inside the penalty area, and Son chipped a ball past Stuver into the back net to make it a two-goal LAFC lead.

LAFC now makes the 3,000 mile road trip to the Bronx to face New York City FC.