In His 100th Game as an LAFC Player, Denis Bouanga Gives Single-Goal Victory Against Atlanta United
- Josue Lopez
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
The first Sunday Nifht Soccer of the last month of the regular season had a thrilling East vs West battle between Los Angeles Football Club and Atlanta United. In what represented the 100th appearances for Denis Bouanga as an LAFC player, the Gabonese star scored the solitary goal giving a 1-0 win for the Black and Gold
With a renewed 5-3-2 formation, LAFC had Hugo Lloris between the pipes; Nkosi Tafari, Ryan Peter’s, and Eddie Segura as central defenders; Sergi Palencia and the return of Rayan Hollingshead in the wings; Mathieu Choiniene,Mark Delgado and Timothy Tillman in the midfield; and the powerful sou of Denis Bouanga and Heung-min Son in offense.
Ronny Delia stepped to BMO Stadium without veteran former USMNT goalkeeper Brad Guzman in goal. Instead; United had Jayden Hilbert in goal; three central defenders consisting of Esea Minaj, Stian Gregersen and Juan Bettocal; Ronald Hernandez and Pedro Amado as full backs; a three-men midfield with Steven Alzate, Alexey Muranchuk, and the best attacking threat they had on Bartosz Slisz; and two strikers represented by Jamal Thiare and club insignia and Deaignsted Player Miguel Almirón.
The first half, and most of the game in general, belonged to the Blakx and Gold: even though Heung.min Son did not have his unusual involvement ent in offense, Mark Delgado giving passes from the midfield and Sergi Palencia coming all the way from the right side the biggest threat for the opponent. Bouanga had an interesting run across the central defenders at the beginning of the half and a free kick that went wide, but it was Sergi Palencia striking a volley back the best goal opportunity.
Even though the fault was not favorable for Atlanta United, Jayden Hilbert had good saves; the one Antron the first half previously mentioned and a long-distance shot against Mark Delgado.
It was through Mark Delgado that the first and only goal of the game took place. The central midfielder delivered the ball to the area seeking for a header; instead, the head contact with the ball came through Enea Muhammad. Such defensive attempt found Denis Bouanga in the right side of the area. The Gabonese attacker placed the ball in the net with the right foot giving LAFC the single-goal victory.
With this result,Atlante United state in the second to last place in the Eastern Conference; the Blakx and Gold keeps raising positions, most specifically the fourth place San Diego, Vancouver and Minnesota in that order are first, second and third place.
LAFC will have their last home game next Wednesday against Toronto FC this Wednesday; meanwhile, Atlanta United travel to Florida to play against Lionel Messi and company’s Inter Miami.
