LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 27: Mateusz Bogusz #19 of Los Angeles FC during the match against Vancouver Whitecaps at BMO Stadium on October 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles FC won the match 2-1 (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images)
LAFC’s 2024 season continues after a chess match against the Vancouver Whitecaps in Los Angeles on Friday evening. It was Poland international Mateusz Bogusz who played the hero with his second-half goal to put LA ahead for good in the 1-0 victory in Game 3 of the best-of-three series to open the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Denis Bouanga, who scored twenty goals for LAFC in the regular season, had a scoring opportunity through the side netting in the eighth minute, as the home team appeared to strike early. Despite coming in with all the momentum in their favor after their 3-0 win in Game 2, the Whitecaps couldn’t find the back of the net throughout a largely dominant first half. Brian White had one great shot stopped by Hugo Lloris and went wide just before half-time after a second.
LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo then changed course in the second half with a new formation, bringing on Olivier Giroud, who made an immediate impact. But it wasn’t until the 62nd minute that Bogusz was able to put the Black and Gold ahead and ultimately reach the second round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
LAFC will now face the Seattle Sounders, who advanced after back-to-back wins over the Houston Dynamo, in the single-elimination Western Conference semifinals next weekend.
Most of the talk surrounding the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs has been in direct opposition to the best-of-three format, but with three more elimination games on Saturday, it’s hard to say this isn’t generating a lot of excitement.
Blackmon headed the ball into the goal via a dead set piece, but was far offside.
62′ GOAL for Mateusz Bogusz
Aaron Long set up Bogusz nicely and the Poland international placed him perfectly in the net.
57′
Giroud and Bouanga almost make contact on another chance, this time with Giroud on the receiving end of a pass into the penalty area. He misses and Vancouver gets worried.
54′
Giroud, who came in on the break, almost put his stamp on the match with a double for Bouanga, but Bouanga missed a score by just a few centimeters.
51′
O’Brien attempts what would have been an epic bicycle kick goal but is denied by White.
47′
Bouanga goes down in the penalty area after a push from Berhalter! The referee doesn’t bite and instead awards Vancouver a goal kick.
HALF TIME: LAFC 0-0 Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver seems to have the momentum after their 3-0 loss to LAFC in Game 2. In this highly competitive chess match, LAFC is losing the possession battle (62% to 38%) and has taken just two shots with 0 on target to defeat Vancouver’s 7 with 1 on goal.
43′
Gauld gets one through to an open White who misses a perfect opportunity with a shot wide left.
40′
After an explosive run, Hollingshead sends a great cross to Palencia in the penalty area. Palencia fired a shot, but it was blocked by a wall of Whitecaps defenders.
