Son and Bouanga Dominate in St Louis

PHOTO: LAFC COMM

St Louis City and Los Angeles Football Club, two of the newest teams in Major League Soccer, faces racha otjer diente sixth time. As ir has been in four of their previous encounters, the result favored the Black and Gold. The Saturday evening at Energizer Park; however, saw one single team doubling the number of chances. Sr Louis only had three; meanwhile, the California roster had more than five.

St Louis stepped to this game with a traditional 4-3-3 formation; captain Roman BürkiI in goal; Devin Padelford and Conrad Wallem as full backs; central defending in charge of Fallou Fall and Timo Baumgart; midfield with Eduard Löwen, Brendan McSorley and Marcel Hartel; and a three-men offense with Marcel Hartel,Jeong Sang-bin and João Klauss.

Instead of the 4-3-3, which has been a dominant formation by the Black and Gold through its 7 seasons in MLS; Steve Cherundolo placed a 3-4-3 formation starving with Hugo Lloris in goal; Eddie Aegura returning to the back with Nkari Tafari and Ryan Porteous; a dynamic midfield with Mathieu Choinière, Mark Delgado in the mssle and Sergi Oalencia and Artem Smolyakov in the sides; and the powerful offense with Heung-min Son, Denis Bouanga and Irish newest incorporation Andrew Moran.

The team managed by David Critchley just had three chances; the most notable was a goal that was called back by VAR and a bicycle kick through a corner. The rest of the chancesa belonged to the Black and Gold though long-distance shooting and after defensive mistakes.

One of those mistakes ended in the first goal for the Blaxk and Gold. At the 13rd minute, Denis Bouanga found a loose ball attempting to create a play from the back; the Gabonese star and current leader in goals in LAFC’s history placed the ball in the net.

Two thirds of the game passed, and the Black and Gold already had a 3-goal advantage. The second and first of two by Heung.min Son came at the fourth minute of stoppage time. The second by “Sunny” and third by LAFC appeared in the 60th minute. Both goals had the Korean league sensation scoring and Artem Smolyakov assisting. The Ukrainian left back has taken the staring spot previously possessed by Rayan Hollingshead.

Speaking of subs, Hugo Lloris was subbed at halftime afrrr a collision with Jeong Sang- in a long pass. The place of the Workd Cup winner was taken by Canadian counter-part Thomas Hasal. 

Steve Cherundolo celebrated his 100th game as an LAFC Coach,

With this conclusive win, LAFC ends September with four victories, 15 goals scored, just four received.

St Louis will travek to Texas to play against US Open Cup finalist Austin Fc,5!&/ on Saturday. The day after, LAFC will play its last regular season game at home hosting Atlanta United.