Los Angeles FC are flying the flag for Major League Soccer in North America's elite club competition, the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The Black and Gold confirmed their place in the quarterfinals of the competition on Tuesday evening despite a 2-1 second leg defeat at fellow MLS club Columbus Crew. A 3-0 first leg victory in Los Angeles was enough for the visitors to hold off the charge of Columbus, who made the tie interesting by scoring two first half goals.
But late on it was Gabon national team star Denis Bouanga who put LAFC beyond reach. As Columbus pushed numbers forward in second half stoppage time, debutant Cengiz Ünder intercepted a loose pass in the Columbus half and set up Bouanga for the finish to end Columbus' hopes of completing the comeback.
Bouanga previously scored twice in LAFC's first leg victory and now has three goals in four matches in continental competition. Next up in the quarterfinals, Bouanga and LAFC will likely face Lionel Messi's Inter Miami who defeated Jamaican club Cavalier FC 2-0 in the first leg of their clash and will play the second leg in Jamaica on Thursday.
Bouanga has yet to score in three MLS appearances and will hope to open his 2025 account in domestic league play when LAFC host Austin FC on Saturday. The 30-year-old has 49 goals in 85 MLS appearances for LAFC, also adding 10 goals in 12 appearances in continental play.
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