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LAFC began its quest for a third straight trip to MLS Cup with a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps in Game 1 of their Round One Best-of-3 Series on Sunday night at BMO Stadium.
Denis Bouanga and Cristian Olivera scored to lead LAFC to the victory. LAFC can now advance to the MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals with a victory over the Whitecaps in Game 2 on Sunday, November 3, in Vancouver. A series deciding Game 3 will be played at BMO Stadium on Friday, November 8, if necessary.
LAFC opened the scoring in the 30th minute when Denis Bouanga converted a penalty kick following a handball in the box by former LAFC defender Tristan Blackmon.
Bouanga, LAFC’s all-time leader in postseason goals, fired his shot past the dive of Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka giving the home side a 1-0 lead.Just before the hour mark, LAFC doubled its lead with Cristian Olivera finishing a long passing sequence by firing a right-footed shot past Takaoka for his first-ever MLS postseason goal, making the score 2-0.
Three minutes later LAFC almost had a third, only for Mateusz Bogusz’s shot to hit the crossbar, keeping the lead at two.LAFC all-time leading scorer Carlos Vela made his 2024 debut, coming on as a substitute in the 86th minute. It was Vela’s first game for the Black & Gold since the 2023 MLS Cup.The Whitecaps pulled a goal back late in second-half stoppage time when Ryan Gauld hit a left-footed shot past LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris from the center of the box to make the score 2-1. However, that would be as close as the Whitecaps would get and LAFC was able to earn the victory.