As September winds down, the fight for the seven automatic playoff qualification spots has heated up in Major League Soccer. Los Angeles Football Club, the 2022 MLS Cup champions and the runner-up in 2023, finds itself in a good position heading into October, largely thanks to three key players.
Currently sitting in third place in the Western Conference, just seven points behind the Los Angeles Galaxy, LAFC is looking to secure a top stop in the 2024 playoffs. Forward Denis Bouanga, has been a key contributor for LAFC this season, leading the team in multiple stats. With a total of 17 goals in MLS this season, Bouanga has dominated the field in attack and is without a doubt LAFC’s greatest offensive threat on any given night.
Plus, he does more for his team than just score. He opens up the field for his team and also possesses a selfless streak, providing a team-leading nine assists on the season. He’s a legitimate contender for MVP, especially given LAFC’s regular season success thus far.
Bouanga’s presence was certainly missed when he was out for international duty during LAFC’s match against the Houston Dynamo, where his team only managed to draw 0-0. LAFC only attempted six shots against Houston, eight fewer shots than head coach Steve Cherundolo’s team managed against the Galaxy the following week with Bouanga back in the lineup. Bouanga’s outstanding offensive play will need to continue as LAFC nears the playoffs hoping to return to the MLS Cup final.
French goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris, has also come up big for LAFC, especially in recent games. Lloris’ performance was exceptional in the Houston match, where he made four key saves. In the process, he recorded his 10th shutout of the season and became the first goalkeeper in MLS to record 10 or more shutouts in the 2024 season.
In LAFC’s recent El Tráfico showdown, the LA Galaxy kept Lloris busy, forcing to make seven saves in an eventual loss. With a total of 79 saves on the season, Lloris has averaged a healthy 2.8 per match, showing that the defense keeps him safe most matches, but that the Frenchman can bail his team out when needed.
He hasn’t made an appearance for LAFC yet this season, but Carlos Vela could be a secret weapon for LAFC down the stretch. The team upgraded its roster recently by re-acquiring black and gold club legend Carlos Vela, signing him out of free agency. The 2019 MLS MVP is returning to Los Angeles and could join Bouanga as a key offensive threat.
In a recent interview, Vela said that “LAFC is a special club, and I am proud of what we have built here. I am excited to return to LAFC and try to help the team achieve great things in any way that I can.” Vela may be 35 years old, but he still managed to contribute 14 goals and 11
assists in all competitions for LAFC in 2023, so fans should be excited about Vela’s presence and the options it creates for LAFC’s attack.
With Bounaga and other major players returning to the lineup from international duty, and Vela’s addition to the roster, watch out for LAFC as they have a chance to sneak past LA Galaxy and secure the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.