
LAFC Ends Regular Season With 1-1 Tie in Vancouver as Dénis Bouanga Captures the 2023 Golden Boot
October 21, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Los Angeles FC News Release
The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) closed out the 2023 MLS regular season with a 1-1 draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place. LAFC forward Dénis Bouanga scored LAFC's goal in the 34th minute off a pass from Ilie Sánchez. It was Bounga's league-leading 20th goal in MLS regular season action - earning him the MLS Golden Boot. He is the third player (Carlos Vela /2019, Diego Rossi/2020) in LAFC's six-year history to win the Golden Boot.
With the tie, LAFC finished third in the Western Conference (14-10-10, 52 points) and will face the sixth-seeded Whitecaps in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. Game information to be released at a later date.
Vancouver would equalize the match 1-1 after Ali Ahmend buried a shot past LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau following a cross delivered by Richie Laryea in the 58thminute. Four minutes later Maxime Crépeau made a goal-line save following a deflected header by Brian White.
In his first full-season in Major League Soccer, Dénis Bouanga reigned supreme as the league's top goal scorer with 20 goals on the season, earning him the 2023 Golden Boot. Bouanga has now scored 33 goals in all competitions in 2023, the third-highest total in MLS history. Bouanga becomes the first Gabonese international to be awarded the trophy. Bouanga's goal tally is the second most in club history behind Carlos Vela's record setting 34 goals in 2019.
NEWS & NOTES
LAFC finishes the 2023 MLS Regular Season in second place with a 14-10-10 record (52 points) good for third place in the Western Conference.
Maxime Crépeau made his seventh start for the Black & Gold since returning to the first team on Sept. 16 after suffering a broken leg in the 2022 MLS Cup Final on Nov. 5, 2022. The start marked Crépeau's 100th career MLS Regular Season appearance.
Dénis Bouanga finished his first full season in MLS at the top of the goal scoring leaderboard with 20 goals in the Regular Season, earning him the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi.
Major League Soccer Stories from October 21, 2023
- FC Dallas Punches Its Postseason Ticket with a Dominant 4-1 Over the LA Galaxy - FC Dallas
- Minnesota United Falls to Sporting Kansas City on Decision Day - Minnesota United FC
- Five Rapids Homegrown Players Feature in Colorado's Final Game of 2023 Season - Colorado Rapids
- Sounders FC Records 2-0 Road Win Over St. Louis CITY SC in Regular-Season Finale - Seattle Sounders FC
- Whitecaps FC Draw Los Angeles FC, 1-1 - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Quakes Clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs in Front of Sellout Crowd - San Jose Earthquakes
- FC Dallas Punches Its Postseason Ticket with a Dominant 4-1 Win Over the LA Galaxy - FC Dallas
- Houston Dynamo FC Clinch Homefield Advantage in Round One of Best-Of-3 Series with Victory in Portland - Houston Dynamo FC
- Schedule Announced for Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs Wild Card Matches - MLS
- LAFC Ends Regular Season With 1-1 Tie in Vancouver as Dénis Bouanga Captures the 2023 Golden Boot - Los Angeles FC
- Rapids' Season Ends with 1-0 Loss Against RSL - Colorado Rapids
- LA Galaxy Fall to FC Dallas in 2023 MLS Regular Season Finale at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday Night - LA Galaxy
- Sporting Earns Playoff-Clinching Win - Sporting Kansas City
- Austin FC Draws 1-1 with San Jose Earthquakes - Austin FC
- Real Salt Lake Finish Regular Season with 1-0 Win at Colorado Rapids - Real Salt Lake
- Timbers Drop 3-1 Result to Houston Dynamo FC in Season Finale at Providence Park - Portland Timbers
- Los Angeles Football Club's Dénis Bouanga Wins 2023 MLS Golden Boot Presented by Audi - MLS
- Whitecaps FC to Face LAFC in MLS Cup Playoffs - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- FC Cincinnati Close Regular Season with 2-2 Draw Against Atlanta United - FC Cincinnati
- Union Clinch Fourth Seed in Eastern Conference; Host New England Revolution in First Round of 2023 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs - Philadelphia Union
- CF Montréal Downed by Columbus Crew - Club de Foot Montreal
- Orlando City SC Closes 2023 Regular Season with 2-0 Win at Toronto FC - Orlando City SC
- Whitecaps FC Head Coach Vanni Sartini Signs Two-Year Extension - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Chicago Fire FC Falls 1-0 Against New York City FC in Regular Season Finale at Citi Field - Chicago Fire FC
- Nashville SC to Meet Orlando City SC in the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs After Seventh Place Finish in Eastern Conference - Nashville SC
- FC Cincinnati Ramp Up for Playoffs with 2-2 Result vs Atlanta United FC - FC Cincinnati
- Full Time: Charlotte FC Clinch Playoffs with Historic Triumph Over Inter Miami - Charlotte FC
- Revolution Close Regular Season with 2-1 Victory Over Philadelphia Union - New England Revolution
- Atlanta United Plays FC Cincinnati to 2-2 Draw - Atlanta United FC
- Inter Miami CF Falls in Charlotte, Closes Historic 2023 Campaign - Inter Miami CF
- NYCFC Finishes Season with Win, Ends Shy of Playoff Berth - New York City FC
- Andrew Farrell Named 2023 Revolution Humanitarian of the Year - New England Revolution
- LA Galaxy Play Host to FC Dallas in 2023 MLS Regular Season Finale - LA Galaxy
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Los Angeles FC Stories
- LAFC to Face Club América in Play-Off Match for a Place in 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
- LAFC Defeats Houston, 2-0, Extends Unbeaten Streak to Four
- LAFC Hosts Houston Dynamo at BMO Stadium on May 3
- LAFC and Fox 11 Launch "LAFC Encore" to Re-Air 24 Regular-Season Matches
- LAFC Picks up a Point with 2-2 Draw with St. Louis City

