LOS ANGELES — In an exciting playoff clash, Denis Bouanga netted a penalty in the first half and Cristian Olivera added another goal shortly after halftime, guiding Los Angeles FC to a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday night. This match marked the initial game of a best-of-three series in the MLS Cup playoffs, with LAFC having finished the regular season as the champions of the Western Conference.

The scoring opened in the 30th minute when Bouanga converted a penalty kick awarded after Vancouver defender Tristan Blackmon committed a foul. This goal marked Bouanga’s eighth career playoff goal in just nine starts, highlighting his offensive prowess, as he has scored 20 goals during each of the past two regular seasons.

LAFC doubled its advantage in the 57th minute, when Olivera found the back of the net with contributions from Mateusz Bogusz and Ryan Hollingshead. This goal was significant for Olivera, as it marked his first in the playoffs after making six postseason appearances, all of which were starts. Bogusz recorded his second assist in the playoffs, while Hollingshead increased his postseason assist tally to two across his 20 playoff games, of which he started 17.

The Whitecaps avoided being shut out when Ryan Gauld scored during stoppage time, specifically the fifth minute, bringing the final score to 2-1. Gauld previously showcased his talents with a hat trick in Vancouver’s impressive 5-0 wildcard victory against the Portland Timbers, marking his first three playoff goals.

In goal for LAFC, Hugo Lloris had a solid performance, making three saves throughout the match. On the other side, Yohei Takaoka recorded two saves during his fourth postseason start, coming off his first-ever playoff shutout against the Timbers.

This encounter represents the second consecutive postseason in which LAFC and the Whitecaps have faced one another in the first round. Last year, LAFC eliminated Vancouver with a commanding 5-2 win at home, followed by a close 1-0 victory on the road. Throughout the recent regular season, LAFC maintained their dominance over the Whitecaps with a 3-0 victory at home and a 2-1 triumph in Vancouver.

The series continues, with the Whitecaps set to host LAFC in the next match, as LAFC aims for their third consecutive appearance in the MLS Cup Final.