In an all too familiar story for LAFC this season, the road trip was not kind. There will be time to discuss that in detail, for now, the team are back at home and looking to get back on track. Hosting Vancouver Whitecaps, Los Angeles come into this one aiming for a win, and to keep their unbeaten run at home going. The visitors will be looking to expand on the gap between them and LAFC in the Western Conference standings, feeling good about their recent unbeaten run, with their last loss coming nearly a month ago, on April 13th.
🇺🇸🇫🇷🇺🇸🇫🇷🇨🇴🇺🇸
🇪🇸🇲🇽🇺🇾🇵🇱🇬🇦#LAFC | @Freeway_Ins pic.twitter.com/08CdSUcfAh— LAFC (@LAFC) May 12, 2024
Vancouver did well to start off the match really well. The first 15 minutes were all visitors, with the tension steadily rising within the stadium. Luckily the tension wouldn’t build for much longer, as LAFC do what they do best when at home, took the lead early. Cristian Olivera gave LAFC the lead in the 18th minute getting on the end of an excellent pass from Denis Bouanga. Timing his run perfectly, he was able to get his boot on it, getting it past the keeper. The goal marked the third match in a row where the young Uruguayan has found the back of the net.
Make that a goal in 3⃣ straight matches for Cristian Olivera 🇺🇾#LAFCvVAN 1-0 pic.twitter.com/X1hxctkgJU
— LAFC (@LAFC) May 12, 2024
The floodgates have well and truly opened for the young attacker, as he continued his prolific form with an effort that doubled the lead for his side late in the first half. LAFC put on a vintage display of precision passing as they worked it up the field against the Whitecap defense. Bouanga got the ball on the opponent’s right side once again, and once again he put in a great pass that found Olivera wide open in front of goal for the tap in giving both he and LAFC, two goals on the night.
Man on fire 🔥
Cristian Olivera doubles our lead. #LAFCvVAN 2-0 pic.twitter.com/dBxhbRnHNf
— LAFC (@LAFC) May 12, 2024
The team took the two goal lead into the halftime break, even with Vancouver coming close on some late set pieces. LAFC finished the half leading in just about every category, and it showed on the pitch with the team fully controlling the first half of this match. Vancouver has yet to win at match when trailing this season, and LAFC looked to keep it that way in the second half, with more goals out there to be had.
When your shot isn’t falling, the best thing you can do is find literally any other way to help your team and tonight we saw that from Denis Bouanga who put on his best tuxedo, with the bowtie, and carried around a silver platter all over the pitch. Once again taking advantage of that right side, Bouanga got off a pass that curled beautifully, just out of the reach of the diving keeper, finding Mateusz Bogusz far post who slammed it home on the run for the third goal of the night. The goal also made it a hat trick of assists for Denis Bouanga who really lifted the team without finding the back of the net.
Make it 3⃣
🇵🇱 Mateusz Bogusz adds another with a sliding finish.#LAFCvVAN 3-0 pic.twitter.com/UNUSOH6zgh
— LAFC (@LAFC) May 12, 2024
Vancouver had one final gasp of fight left in them in the waning moments of the match that threatened the shutout briefly, but in the end LAFC did well to see out the win, the shutout, get the three points, and put on another show at home. Now the team prepare for another short week, and another road trip, heading East to take on St. Louis City SC, and maybe they will finally take this show on the road.
Thoughts on the win? Leave a comment below!