LAFC Triumphs Over Real Salt Lake with Dominant 4-1 Victory

LAFC Triumphs Over Real Salt Lake with Dominant 4-1 Victory

Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga made history with his second hat trick in three games, leading LAFC to a thrilling 4-1 win over visiting Real Salt Lake. Bouanga’s impressive performance saw him score his 20th, 21st, and 22nd goals of the season, making him the first player in MLS history to equal or surpass 20 goals in three consecutive seasons.

Real Salt Lake’s Brayan Vera gave his team an early lead with a stunning 25-yard effort that beat Hugo Lloris’ dive to the top left corner.

LAFC’s Comeback, However, LAFC quickly turned the game around, with Bouanga leveling the score in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. Son Heung-min followed with an exceptional effort from distance, guiding a 20-yard strike low off the inside of the left post.

Bouanga completed his hat trick in the 73rd minute, receiving a pass from Andrew Moran and slotting it past Rafael Cabral. He sealed his hat trick with another goal in the 87th minute, courtesy of Jeremy Ebobisse’s service.

LAFC’s victory moved them to fourth place in the Western Conference, five points above fifth-place Seattle and within four points of third-place Minnesota. Bouanga’s achievement also tied him with Lionel Messi atop the MLS Golden Boot leaderboard. With this win, LAFC has now secured a recent three-match winning streak, with either Bouanga or Son scoring each of their 14 goals in the last five matches.

Photos: Art Cordero