Denis Bouanga’s late goal lifts LAFC past San Jose

LOS ANGELES — Arguably the best striker in Los Angeles Football Club history came face to face with perhaps its most disappointing signing at the attacking spot.

In the end, neither Cristian “Chicho” Arango nor Olivier Giroud got on the board Saturday in their Major League Soccer regular season contest at BMO Stadium, which LAFC won 2-1 over the San Jose Earthquakes.

The game-winner went to another forward, LAFC’s back-to-back 20-goal man Denis Bouanga, who connected in the 86th minute for his first score in eight league games this year, breaking a six-game scoreless drought.

Bouanga’s finish inside the near post gave LAFC a two-goal edge following Sergi Palencia’s unlikely picture-perfect volley in the 65th minute.

For Palencia, it was his first goal since the 2017-2018 season in Spain’s third-division, and his first ever in a top-flight league match.

San Jose denied Hugo Lloris a fourth shutout this year when Christian Espinoza finished during 12 minutes of stoppage time in front of an announced crowd of 22,110.

Returning home following Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal loss to Inter Miami CF, LAFC sought to pick up the pieces after dropping four of its previous five MLS contests.

“It was a difficult week for us, so winning today was really important,” said LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo.

The result lifted LAFC (4-4-0, 12 points) above San Jose (3-4-1, 10 points) in the conference standings on a night when Arango returned to the place where he helped LAFC win the 2022 MLS Cup.

Starting opposite Giroud, who joined the Black & Gold last summer coming off a productive campaign in Italy with AC Milan, Arango and his attacking partner Josef Martinez were limited to two shots on target a week after tallying four goals in San Jose’s 6-1 victory against D.C. United.

LAFC began the match with three center backs – Maxime Chanot in his first minutes this year, Aaron Long and Eddie Segura – flanked by Palencia and Ryan Hollingshead, who made his 100th regular season appearance for LAFC.

“If we would play with four [defenders] we would struggle for sure,” Palencia said. “These two guys in front, they create a lot of chances, they move a lot, they are so good in the box, and they will cause a lot of problems. Today, we did a good job. We had a line very high to press them. We didn’t let them have spaces and hats off to our three center backs today.”

As for Palencia’s goal, which Bouanga called “beautiful,” the fullback admitted that he has a problem around goal, even in training, and prefers to pass.

“Why do I need to shoot if I have Denis on my side? Or Kike Olivera. Or Carlos Vela. I pass to them and let them shoot. They are specialists in that.

“Today was so open, wide open, and one of the things is always important is to have faith, be convinced you are going to score, visualize you are going to score, and today I hit it with soul, with everything important that we have.”

While it was Palencia’s night, Giroud still awaits for his first MLS goal after 15 regular season and four postseason contests.

The French legend had moments prior to exiting in the 89th minute. He appeared more lively than he had in a while, working hard for the team, holding up play, and showing a spring in his legs that’s been missing for much of his time with LAFC.

“Tonight he contributed in the ways that he can,” Cherundolo said of the 38-year-old striker. “He fought. He ran. He controlled some of our vertical play very well. We had some link-up play as well. The only thing missing was a goal, and he had a great chance. If we’re getting him in good areas and good spots, and we’re giving him chances and he’s creating chances for others, then we’re gonna be good and win a lot of games.”

Last month, Cherundolo addressed Giroud’s struggles.

“Attackers, of course, are judged by their production and his production numbers are not where he would like them to be, nor are they there where we’d like them to be,” the coach said. “Those are facts and that is something that he deals with, we deal with, but his effort in training, his effort in the locker room being a good teammate, his effort in the games is always there and we’ve never questioned that. He’s a great guy and important for our team. Yeah, of course, he would love to have scored more goals, and we’d like the same, but that’s the situation. We don’t really dwell on the past here. We move forward and try to make the most out of the time coming and the next games ahead.”

Giroud’s best opportunity came late after San Jose’s backup goalkeeper, Earl Edwards Jr., turned the ball over in the Earthquakes’ defensive zone. LAFC midfielder Timothy Tillman intercepted the goalkeeper’s pass and immediately fed it to Giroud, whose first-time left footer from 18 yards out was saved but the rebound bounced into Bouanga’s path.

Ten minutes into the match, Bouanga skied a shot deep inside the box over the crossbar. This time, though, he did what he’s supposed to do.

“I felt I should’ve scored two,” he said, “but hopefully, this goal will bring many more.”