LOS ANGELES (AP) — Denis Bouanga scored via penalty in the first half and Cristian Olivera did so early in the second to lift Western Conference regular-season leader Los Angeles FC to a 2-2 victory. -1 over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday night in a best-of-three first-round series for the MLS Cup.
LAFC took a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute on Bouanga’s penalty goal. The reigning conference champions were awarded a free kick after a foul by Vancouver defender Tristan Blackmon. It was Bouanga’s eighth postseason goal in his ninth career start. Bouanga had 20 regular season goals in each of the last two seasons.
LAFC extended the 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 postseason appearance, all starts. Bogusz recorded his second career assist in his second start and sixth postseason appearance. It was Hollingshead’s second assist in 20 playoff appearances, with 17 starts.
Vancouver avoided a shutout when Ryan Gauld scored in the fifth minute of added time. Gauld scored three goals, the first three of his postseason career, in the Whitecaps’ 5-0 wild-card round victory over the Portland Timbers.
