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Los Angeles FC

Bouanga Scores Twice to Help LAFC Earn 2-2 Home Draw with New York

April 21, 2024 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Los Angeles FC News Release


The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) remained unbeaten at home this season, playing to a 2-2 draw with the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night at BMO Stadium. Denis Bouanga scored twice, including the game-tying goal in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time (90' + 5), to help earn his team a share of the points.

The Black & Gold are now 3-3-3 on the season for 12 points with 11 of those points coming courtesy of a 3-0-2 record at home.

LAFC were forced into a change just eight minutes into the game when Aaron Long slid into the post while blocking a shot from Dante Vanzeir, saving a certain goal but injuring himself in the process. Long was replaced by Eddie Segura who headed the ball into his own net from the ensuing corner kick to give the Red Bulls a 1-0 advantage.

Midway through the second half, LAFC would equalize when Denis Bouanga was clipped down in the box, leading to a penalty kick that was confirmed upon video review. Bouanga stepped up to take the penalty and fired his shot past the dive of New York goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, tying the score at 1-1.

However, New York would retake the lead in the 81st minute when a Red Bull corner kick found its way through a swarm of bodies and fell to the feet of Emil Forsberg who scored from close range to give his team a 2-1 lead.

The score would stay that way deep into second half stoppage time when Bouanga got his second goal of the game, tying the score at 2-2. Bouanga collected a second ball after a Sergi Palencia cross on the left and cut inside onto his right foot before curling a shot that deflected off a New York defender and into the net for his team-best fifth goal of the season, earning LAFC a point.

LAFC will be back in action next weekend when they host the Portland Timbers at BMO Stadium. That game, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT, can be seen live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and on 710 AM ESPN LA, 980 AM La Mera Mera (Esp) and SiriusXM FC.

NEWS & NOTES

LAFC is now 2-1-1 all-time against the Red Bulls, including 2-0-1 at BMO Stadium.

This was the first meeting between these two sides that did not end with a win for the home team.

After using the same starting lineup in each of the previous four games, LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo was forced to make two changes to his lineup tonight with Eduard Atuesta missing the game through suspension and Jesus Murillo missing out with a knee injury. They were replaced by Kei Kamara and Maxime Chanot respectively.

Both Kamara and Chanot made their first-ever starts for LAFC.

The Red Bulls took a 1-0 lead in the 8th minute. That was the first time this season that LAFC had trailed at home.

Denis Bouanga scored twice for LAFC, giving him five goals on the season. All five have come at home.

Bouanga now has two multi-goal games this season, having also scored twice in the 5-0 win over Nashville SC on March 23.

Bouanga now has 13 multi-goal games in all competitions for LAFC, including eight multi-goal games in the MLS regular season, two in Concacaf Champions Cup play, two in Leagues Cup, and one in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Bouanga's first goal of the game was his 45th in all competitions for LAFC.

He is now 6-for-6 all-time on penalty kicks in the regular season, going 3-for-3 in 2023 and 3-for-3 this season. He is also 1-for-1 from the spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Sergi Palencia was credited with an assist on Bouanga's late game-tying goal. That was his second assist of the season and first since March 23 against Nashville. The two assists equal Palencia's total from 2023, his first season with LAFC.

Ilie Sanchez made the 220th appearance of his MLS career in the game, while Ryan Hollingshead started his 205th game.

Luis Müller came on for LAFC in the 89th minute to make his MLS debut.

This was the first game this season in which LAFC scored without Timothy Tillman registering a goal or an assist.

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