It wasn’t the blowout everyone thought this would be, but all that matters is the result and in the end, LAFC were able to do enough to come away with a very important three points at home. The win last night extended their winning streak to five matches, and more importantly it cements them safely in the top four. The closest team below them, Seattle Sounders, sit seven points back with two matches to play, meaning even if Los Angeles lost the rest of their matches and Seattle won theirs, they would still finish a point above them in fourth. It wasn’t an easy time out for the black & gold, with Atlanta United coming into LA with two goals in mind. Make the match as slow of a grind as possible, and do anything necessary to come away with a point.
🖐️ in a row pic.twitter.com/pnpRcWOUKR
— LAFC (@LAFC) October 6, 2025
It was a bit strange to see Atlanta come out with a game plan that screamed, ‘we’re here for a point and not to press for a win’ when their season is already done. They have no need for every little point to stay in any sort of playoff race, nor are they sitting top of their table angling for better position, they quite literally have nothing to lose by playing aggressive and actually trying to finish their season with wins. Pride, however, is real and Atlanta United came into this one with five defenders at the back, a low block, and a heavy defensive mindset. To give you a sense of it, Atlanta finished the first half with one shot, just one, with an xG of 0.03. LAFC did their best to break down the defense in the first half, earning five corners, finishing the half with nine shots (two on target) and looking for a way through but they wouldn’t find it in the first 45 of the match. Halftime break came with both teams scoreless and the Los Angeles attack more than a bit perturbed about being kept out of goal.
Second half wasn’t much different from either side. Atlanta only got off two shots, kept just 40% of the possession, and didn’t earn a single corner. In fairness to them, their tactics were working for 98% of the match. They were keeping Los Angeles from running up the goal tally, and the very few counter attacks they did go on nearly paid off for them. On a more clinical day in the final third, they may very well have been in a real position to pull off the upset. It took 86 minutes, but after knocking and knocking and knocking, LAFC finally broke the door down for their goal. A dangerous, ball into the box bounced off the head of the Atlanta defender who tried to clear it out, but didn’t get nearly enough on it. The ball stayed in the box and bounced right to Denis Bouanga who only needed on chance to put it in the back of the net for the late winner.
Until the end 😤
Denis Bouanga scores in the final moments.
Thrill of the Match | @Yaamava pic.twitter.com/HVNTQuojK9
— LAFC (@LAFC) October 6, 2025
The goal marks Bouanga’s 99th for LAFC as he closes in on the big milestone of a century scored. The single goal wasn’t enough, as LAFC were looking to add more with the handful of minutes left in the match and nearly did. Bouanga looked to pick out Son on a breakaway, but the pass was just out of reach for the Korean striker, and the team would have to settle for just a one goal win on the night. “It’s a wonderful feeling, I managed to score in the last few minutes, so its great for me and of course for the fans and the club” said Denis Bouanga when speaking to media after the match. “Im also frustrated to have not served the pass correctly [to Son] that could’ve added to the score.”
As we mentioned before, the win cements the team’s spot in the top four, as they continue to push for an even better position in the Western Conference standings. Now things get real interesting for LAFC as the club are set to navigate International break. Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-Min have been called up to represent their respective nations, and as it stands, will be looking to miss the next two matches. That said, given his history, it would surprise nobody if Bouanga showed up for the match against Toronto, with plans to join Gabon after leading the team to another win first.
Thoughts on the team grinding out for the late win? Leave a comment below!