VANCOUVER, British Columbia — In an exciting match on Sunday night, Los Angeles FC triumphed over the Vancouver Whitecaps with a score of 2-1. The game kicked off with Mateusz Bogusz scoring just 35 seconds in, marking a strong start for LAFC. This goal, assisted by David Martínez and Olivier Giroud, marked Bogusz’s impressive 15th goal of the season for the team, highlighting his breakout performance this year. Martínez, in his 16th appearance, recorded his fourth assist, while Giroud secured his third assist in just nine appearances.

The Whitecaps managed to equalize in the 62nd minute when Sebastian Berhalter netted a goal from a free kick, following a handball by LAFC’s Sergi Palencia. This marked Berhalter’s second goal of the season and the fourth of his career, showcasing his growth as a player.

As the match wore on, Ilie Sánchez scored in the third minute of stoppage time, which turned out to be the game-winner. This was Sánchez’s first goal of the season and the tenth of his career, with Kei Kamara providing the assist, his fifth of the season.

In goal for LAFC, Hugo Lloris was solid, contributing three crucial saves throughout the match. On the other side, Yohei Takaoka of the Whitecaps also made two saves, keeping the game competitive.

With this victory, LAFC narrows the gap to just three points behind the Los Angeles Galaxy in the race for the top position in the Western Conference, securing at least a second-place finish in the standings. Earlier this season, LAFC defeated the Whitecaps 3-0 in their home game, extending their overall series lead to 10 wins, 6 losses, and 4 draws.

Meanwhile, for the Whitecaps, this loss deepens their struggles, as they are currently 0-4-2 in their last six matches, placing them at No. 8 in the Western standings.

Looking ahead, LAFC is set to face the San Jose Earthquakes in a decisive match next Saturday, while the Whitecaps will hit the road to close out their regular season against Real Salt Lake.