LOS ANGELES — A fourth consecutive shutout victory propelled the Los Angeles Football Club to a big advantage over the Columbus Crew following the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 matchup featuring two of MLS’s most successful teams.
Ending a three-match losing streak to the Crew, including the 2023 MLS Cup and 2024 Leagues Cup finals, LAFC dominated it way to a 3-0 victory in the first match of the two-game series, which concludes next Tuesday at Lower.com Field in Ohio.
Two goals from Denis Bouanga and one more for good measure by Nathan Ordaz puts LAFC in the driver’s seat as it seeks a bid into the tournament’s quarterfinal round in April.
Like Bouanga did in 2024, the French attacker needed five games to notch his first goal of the season.
The same for his second.
The prolific winger has made a habit of doing the spectacular since arriving in America in 2022, but Tuesday’s initial contribution didn’t require anything out of the ordinary. In fact, it came gift wrapped courtesy his former teammate, friend and last year’s MLS Defensive Player of the Year Steven Moreira.
Stealing the ball off Moreira’s foot 35 yards from the goal, Bouanga charged toward Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte and made one move to his left before tucking it away to give LAFC its first goal prior to the break this year.
At halftime, Columbus head coach Wilfried Nancy removed Moreira, who watched from the sidelines when Bouanga connected on his second.
This time, though, the Frenchman thoroughly earned it.
Receiving the ball on the left from Jeremy Ebobisse, who started for the second match in a row in the No. 9 spot, Bouanga moseyed into the box and deftly floated a chip shot that kissed the underside of the crossbar.
The two-goal night gives Bouanga nine in CONCACAF play, surpassing Carlos Vela as LAFC’s top scorer in the event.
Steve Cherundolo’s team gave itself some room to breathe in the 81st minute, when substitute Nathan Ordaz made good on one of LAFC’s abundant second half chances. Off a corner kick by Bouanga, the rebound landed in front of Ordaz, whose one-timer off a half volley was ripped into the upper corner.
Once again LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris did not have much to do, making one save on the Crew’s only attempt on goal. His counterpart, Columbus’ Patrick Schulte was under pressure much of the contest, facing 18 shots (nine on goal) while making eight saves.
More to come on this story.