Bouanga, Olivera score as LAFC opens MLS playoffs with 2-1 win over Whitecaps
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Denis Bouanga scored on a penalty kick in the first half and Cristian Olivera scored early in the second to lead Western Conference regular-season champion Los Angeles FC to a 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday night in a best-of-three first-round series for the Major League Soccer Cup.
LAFC took a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute on the PK goal by Bouanga. The reigning conference champs were awarded the kick after a foul was called on Vancouver defender Tristan Blackmon. It was the eighth post-season goal for Bouanga in his ninth career start. Bouanga scored 20 regular-season goals in each of the past two seasons.
LAFC grabbed a two-goal lead in the 57th minute when Olivera used assists from Mateusz Bogusz and defender Ryan Hollingshead to score his first playoff goal in his sixth post-season appearance — all starts. Bogusz notched his second career assist in his second start and sixth appearance in the playoffs. It was the second assist for Hollingshead in 20 career post-season appearances with 17 starts.
Vancouver avoided the shutout when Ryan Gauld scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Gauld had a hat trick for his first three career post-season goals in the Whitecaps’ 5-0 wild-card win over the Portland Timbers.
