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LAFC 2, Club América 1: Bouanga boosts Los Angeles onto the world stage

It wasn't easy, but LAFC dug deep to put themselves on the biggest stage in club football
Trebor TracyBy 7 Mins Read
Denis Bouanga celebrates after lifting LAFC into the Club World Cup with a match winner. Photo courtesy of Los Angeles FC

Going up against Liga MX powerhouses is never easy. Quite frankly, with what was on the line, it shouldn’t be easy either. However, for the club that has positioned itself as one of the best in the MLS since their arrival, a club that has done all it can to build a winning culture as it competes in every competition they could, it was another day at the office. Taking on the best teams from Liga MX isn’t something new to LAFC, in fact, at this point in the club’s history, it’s become very common. This one was different though. While the opponent was familiar, what was at stake was historical. A chance for Los Angeles to take themselves to yet another level, a chance to not only face the best teams their Southern neighbors had to offer, but now the team from the heart of Los Angeles has a chance to take on some of the best teams from across the globe.

For the third time in their brief history, LAFC was set to host Club América as they both looked to snag the open spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup this summer. This time, you could feel how important this match was. This was more than just bragging rights between MLS and Liga MX, more than just the hottest commodity from Los Angeles looking to once again get the best of a Mexican powerhouse, more than any three points could provide, this was for history. The first bite LAFC got at the Club World Cup apple, a competition that is by far the biggest in domestic club football. A competition that consistently features teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, Chelsea FC, PSG, Bayern FC, and the list goes on. Think of the biggest club in each league around the world and chances are they were in this tournament, that is what was on the line.

The first half felt like a heavyweight fight. Neither side were too interested in playing too aggressive to start. Neither side wanted to make a fatal early mistake. Despite playing at home in the comforts of BMO, the home field advantage from an atmosphere standpoint, was slim, as Club América supporters found a way to do what no other opponent has been able to do, take over BMO. A wall of yellow, frenzied, América supporters sat opposite the wall of 3252, both sides trying to energize their teams in the first half. It was an even-keeled first half that ended with neither side taking the lead, no haymakers thrown, and both sides went into break without a goal, and everything to play for in the second half.

The CONCACAF vibes were pretty strong in the second half. The Dark Arts started getting deployed on both sides, fans from both sides were getting to the ‘throwing things at opposing players from the stands’ portion of the evening, and the tension was sky high. The tension only got worse for Los Angeles in the 64th minute when LAFC were called for a foul in the box, that resulted in a penalty being awarded to Club América. A familiar face stepped up to the spot, as former LAFC winger Brian ‘Rayito’ Rodriguez stood over the ball, facing his supporters and their yellow wall, and calmly sent it past Lloris to give his new side the lead. As is typical when there is no bad blood between former club and player, the celebration was muted as he showed respect for LAFC, despite the moment being massive for his current side. Now, it was time to see just what LAFC were made of.

Nerves built up as time ticked away on LAFC’s chances. Despite peppering the goal with attempt after attempt, the black & gold couldn’t find their way into the back of the net. Everyone started to feel that sinking feeling in your stomach when all you can do is watch your team slowly lose grip on an important game. Then, in one of the final actions of regulation, Los Angeles put on one more attempt on a corner kick. A perfect ball sent into the box found a leaping Igor Jesus, who in the 89th minute, got his head on the ball just enough to get it past the keeper for the equalizer, sending BMO into an absolute frenzy.

As is the case in these types of matches, before we were greeted with penalty kicks to decide the winner, it was time for 30 minutes of Extra Time football, and you could see the legs get tired on just about everyone on the pitch. Both sides, players were starting to get gassed, legs were heavy, mistakes were being made, but one man on that pitch looked fresher than ever, LAFC forward, Denis Bouanga. The Gabonese attacker was on the hunt and was thirsty to find the winner, putting in run after run, taking on several defenders at times just to give his side a chance late. Then, as time was winding down on Extra Time, with penalties looking all the more likely, Bouanga did what he has seemingly made a knack of doing, coming up big in the biggest moments. In the 115th minute of the match, after a deadly little setup from Olivier Giroud, Denis Bounga came streaking down the middle of the pitch where he need just one touch to blast it past the keeper for the winner. The man who had started the season with some of the worst form we had seen from him in an LAFC shirt, had once again come up massive when his team needed him the most.

The goal gave LAFC the win in the match and punched their ticket to the FIFA Club World Cup taking place this summer. They will take the place of another Mexican giant, León, in Group D of the competition where they will be joined by ES Tunis, Flamengo, and English powerhouse Chelsea FC. Now LAFC has a chance to do what it was always built to do, join the best clubs on the planet and show the rest of the football world what they can do. Even if we don’t see the strongest sides some of these clubs have to offer, the road will be so very far from easy. It will be a true litmus test on where in the global pecking order a team like LAFC fall, but as we have seen from them before, the bigger the moment, the bigger they seem to play and when it comes to club football, it gets no bigger than this.

Thoughts on the win over Club América and the Club World Cup? Leave a comment below!

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