Don’t look now, but LAFC are storming up the standings and playing some of their best football of the season, at the perfect time. This past weekend the black & gold were back on the road to take on St. Louis City SC, looking to remain unbeaten against the midwest club, while also looking to extend their win streak. While their run of hat tricks came to an end in the match, they were able to check off those other two items as they cruised to a three goal shutout St. Louis, as they continue to gather momentum heading into the postseason.
3 Goals. 3 Points pic.twitter.com/GA19EOBuCF
— LAFC (@LAFC) September 28, 2025
Scoring early has just become a habit for LAFC at this point, as the team once again found themselves in the lead before we even hit the 20 minute mark. In fairness to the home side, that opening 13 minutes from them looked a lot better than we have seen from opponents in recent matches, but it just took one mistake for Los Angeles to pounce. Specifically, Denis Bouanga, who has the Golden Boot firmly in his sights as he continues to pile on the goals. In the 15th minute St. Louis must have had a misinput because they gave up the ball on what was either a poor first touch or really bad pass. The ball rolled into open space where Denis Bouanga jumped on it and with nobody around him, he took it barreling down on goal, letting it fly from just outside the box. The strike was a low driven shot that went just passed the outstretched hands of the keeper and just inside the post for the early lead.
Golden Boot is in sight 👀
Denis Bouanga buries it from outside the box https://t.co/21KwzUC6we pic.twitter.com/JLvTkwLR0z
— LAFC (@LAFC) September 28, 2025
As we said earlier, St. Louis wasn’t terrible for long stretches in this match. While they did spend the first half just trying to survive the offensive onslaught, they did really well to keep LAFC out of goal after conceding early and nearly went into the halftime break just down one. In what has become the most adorable bromance in the MLS, Son Heung-Min wasn’t about to let Bouanga have all the fun. It took a while, but in the last minute of the four minutes of stoppage time, Son joined his new bestie on the scoresheet. In a case of anything you can do, I can do better, Sonny got the ball in the exact same area as Bouanga was in for his goal, and while he did have Denis running to his right, he decided he would take it himself. He didn’t shoot from outside the box, opting to get as close as he could before sniping a goal with a low shot of his own that also went near post, and couldn’t be stopped.
Sonny scores in his 3rd consecutive match 🔥 https://t.co/Z26S5yV7Ww pic.twitter.com/kJsWtnuIlA
— LAFC (@LAFC) September 28, 2025
LAFC went into the half with 14 shots under their belt, having enjoyed 62% of the possession and riding a two-goal lead. It was clear from the start, they were the better team on the day, and they were proving it. For a moment, it looked like the hat trick streak might live on with how easily they were getting opportunities to score, but the second half was a lot more reserved, despite being just as dominant.
The team put on just seven shots in the second half, and gave up the possession to St. Louis City, but they did get the goal to drive the nail through the coffin in this match. A great somewhat innocuous pass to Son in the box left him facing several defenders. For a moment, it looked like he might keep ball movement alive but after a quick assessment he mad a move to his right, created just a sliver of space and with his right foot, unloaded a screamer that found the back of the net in the 60th minute, giving him the brace.
Pick your spot 🎯
Sonny with his second goal of the match. https://t.co/I6fAZtASY0 pic.twitter.com/CcD0UOtJ6s
— LAFC (@LAFC) September 28, 2025
Again, with 30 plus minutes left to play, the hat trick streak was still on for Son, but in the end, it was not to be. What was really fun to watch, depending on how you view fun, was watching several other players trying to score goals, only to be seemingly met by a forcefield around goal. It seems as though at this point in time, only Bouanga or Son are allowed to find the back of the net for the team. Thankfully, their shooting boots have been red-hot lately, so that shouldn’t be a problem. There are just four matches left in the MLS regular season and the team are not only in fourth, but are just four points from the top spot in the Western Conference. Oh, and they still have two games in hand on the leading San Diego FC, meaning they could very well make a push for that number one seed in the coming weeks. First, they get set for their last home stand of the season with two at BMO before closing out the season with two on the road. First up, Atlanta United, in what will be just the sixth meeting between these two clubs.
Thoughts on the win and current form? Leave a comment below!