Bouanga Becomes LAFC’s All-Time Top Scorer in Dominant Win Over Real Salt Lake
Los Angeles — Denis Bouanga etched his name into LAFC history by scoring his 94th career goal for the club across all competitions late in the second half, becoming the team’s all-time leading scorer.
The victory lifted LAFC (13-7-8, 47 points) into fourth place in the Western Conference, just above the Seattle Sounders.
Bouanga’s MLS tally for the season now stands at 19 goals, the third-highest in the league. He also assisted Son Heung-min’s third goal of the night, marking his fifth goal contribution in six league matches since joining from Tottenham Hotspur in August.
LAFC celebrated its second consecutive hat trick after Bouanga netted three goals in a 4-2 win over the San Jose Earthquakes just two days earlier.
Real Salt Lake’s (10-15-4, 34 points) Zavier Gozo briefly narrowed the gap to 2-1 with a stunning side volley in the 76th minute. However, the visitors’ dominance was never in doubt.
RSL, which has lost four of its last five games, remains 10th in the Western Conference, one point behind San Jose in the final playoff spot. Forward Victor Olatunji was shown a red card in stoppage time for violent conduct and will miss the next meeting between the clubs in Southern California on Sunday.
The scoring began in the third minute when Son capitalized on a sequence of tackles in the center circle. Timothy Tillman won the final challenge and delivered a perfect pass to Son, who calmly took two touches before slotting the ball past RSL goalkeeper Rafael.
Son struck again 13 minutes later, combining once more with Tillman’s run down the left. After a layoff to Ryan Hollingshead, Son unleashed a curling 25-yard shot that beat Rafael in the bottom right corner, doubling LAFC’s lead.
RSL had a chance to respond in the 56th minute, but Rwan Cruz’s penalty hit the post.
In the 82nd minute, Bouanga sprinted from his own half to latch onto a long ball down the right. Son joined the break and slid in a perfectly timed finish off Bouanga’s cross, capping a sensational night in MLS.
Bouanga added his own goal six minutes later after a similar counterattack, this one set up by David Martinez, sealing a memorable victory for the Black and Gold.
Mutib Khalid is a skilled content writer and digital marketer with a knack for crafting compelling narratives and optimizing digital strategies. Excel in creating engaging content that drives results and enhances online presence. Passionate about blending creativity with data-driven approaches, Mutib Khalid helps brands connect with their audience and achieve their goals.