Denis Bouanga, LAFC slip past St. Louis City – Daily News

LOS ANGELES — Since arriving in MLS two years ago, French attacker Denis Bouanga has been a black and gold wrecking ball.

Making his hundredth career appearance for LAFC on Wednesday night, Bouanga’s 67th goal matched club legend Carlos Vela over that same span. It took Vela four seasons to reach the century mark, while Bouanga did it in less than two and a half.

From his first goal with LAFC to clinch the Supporters’ Shield in 2022 through his 15th game-winner in a 1-0 victory over St. Louis City on Wednesday at BMO Stadium, Bouanga has become something of a security blanket for head coach Steve Cherundolo.

“When he’s on the field I’m very warm, I guess,” Cherundolo said. “Warm and cozy inside. He’s a great player.

“We know we can count on him. He knows his responsibility on this team is to come up with those moments, and I think right now it’s just a great little marriage.”

The 2023 MLS Golden Boot winner’s 19th league goal of the season kept the 29-year-old Gabonese international within three of D.C. United’s Christian Benteke in the race to be the league’s top scorer.

“I’m eager,” said Bouanga, who spoke with Benteke on Monday and reiterated that he is trying his best to catch the 33-year-old Congolese forward. “I’m hungry for more. I’m super happy that Steve feels fuzzy that I’m on the team.”

Bouanga’s league-leading ninth game-winner marked his 26th goal in all competitions in 2024, and his second in as many matches following a tremendous effort in Cincinnati last weekend to secure a 2-1 victory.

“He’s a true finisher,” Cherundolo said. “A true attacker. One you just kind of have to let go and play.”

While competing in France for a club that wasn’t in title contention, Bouanga did not enjoy the freedom to roam through opposing defenses like he has with LAFC. The Designated Player’s latest decisive contribution, which came during five minutes of stoppage time prior to halftime, provided yet another sample of his explosive qualities.

Darting past a pair of St. Louis defenders, from straight away Bouanga hammered a shot into the far corner – but it was the buildup that made the play.

Recovering the ball off a goal kick from St. Louis, seven LAFC players were involved inside their opponent’s half of the field. Backheels by Timothy Tillman and Olivier Giroud kept the action alive, and it was the French striker’s touch that allowed Mateusz Bogusz space to feed Bouanga on the other side of the field.

For Giroud, who celebrated his 38th birthday on Monday, the goal contribution was his second assist in as many games; he also helped Bouanga with a touch in their last match.

The clean sheet was the fourth time in four meetings against St. Louis (7-12-13, 34 points) that LAFC didn’t concede. The visitors took seven shots, three of which were blocked, but they never threatened Hugo Lloris, whose save-less shutout was his MLS-best 11th of the season.

“It brings a lot of confidence from a keeper who is a world champ,” said fullback Omar Campos, who made his third consecutive start in league play. “He knows what he says and what he does, so there’s no better person to take that from.

“All week we worked on tiny things that we needed to touch up on defensively, and tonight it was reflected on the pitch.”

The coaching staff focused on spacing, positioning on the field in certain moments when the ball is uncovered, and what should be prioritized.