Los Angeles Football Club is in the Western Conference final as Denis Bouanga’s goal sinks the Seattle Sounders 1-0 at Lumen Field.
After years of Seattle Sounders knocking out LAFC in the 2019 and 2020 MLS Playoffs. LAFC got their revenge and is one game away from defending their MLS CUP. The Black and Gold ended Seattle Sounders 19 unbeaten home playoff matches and lost against LAFC in the MLS playoffs for the first time.
The Sounders were one win away from making history. Another win would be Seattle Sounders’ 20th straight postseason breaking a league record. But LAFC said not today, as the Black and Gold aim to become the first MLS club to win consecutive titles in 11 seasons.
“Yes. I came to LAFC to set records, to win MLS like we did last year, and I’m really hoping that we can go back-to-back.” Said Bouanga.
But at the end of the day, LAFC showed they can defend the MLS Cup, and the victory was well deserved. Bouanga’s goal in the 30th minute gave him a score in six straight games, proving he is the best player this season.
Not only was he the best player, Maxime Crepeau made two excellent saves in the opening four minutes. In addition, the back four defended well after the goal. They were organized and strong, blocking the Sounder’s crosses until the end of the game.
“As a goalkeeper, it’s the kind of game that you like because you have actions after actions,” said Crepeau.
LAFC will join Houston Dynamo in the Conference finals, and it won’t be an easy game. Dynamo finished 4th in the league and beat LAFC twice in June, 4-0 and 1-0. The positive is that LAFC plays at the BMO Stadium this Saturday. Therefore, Dynamo will have a tough time, and Steve Cherundolo needs to start the same lineup against the Seattle Sounders.
That lineup is strong enough to beat the three remaining teams in the competition. On the other side of the bracket are Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati. Though both teams played better than LAFC this season, the Black and Gold still have the same players from last season. If LAFC wins, they will travel to the east side of the country due to Western Conference teams finishing lower than the fourth-placed Eastern team.
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