Los Angeles Football Club advanced to the Conference Semi-finals as they beat Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 at BC Place on Sunday, November 5.
The last three games were a chance for Vancouver to get revenge against the Black and Gold, but LAFC was too good for them. LAFC beat the Whitecaps four times, lost once, and drew once in all competitions.
Now, LAFC is waiting for their next opponent and will face either Seattle Sounders or FC Dallas. Since Seattle beat FC Dallas in the first round of the best-of-three series while FC Dallas defeated Seattle in the second round, one more win and they will face the 2022 MLS Champions.
MLS Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga’s penalty was enough to seal LAFC’s progressions to the MLS Cup playoff semi-finals. Going to the game, not only did Bouanga save LAFC, but Maxime Creapeau was exceptional.
Creapau made five saves, including a diving stop on a shot by Ryan Guald in the final seconds of the match. Meanwhile, Takaoka also stole the show and made six saves, including a double save on a shot by Timothy Tillman and a long shot by Bounanga.
In the final seconds of the second half, Bouanga appeared to score a brace in second-half stoppage time, but a goal review determined he was offside. Now, LAFC are three games away to defend their MLS title.
FC Dallas and Seattle are formidable rivals, but out of the two teams, Seattle Sounders are a serious opposition. After missing the Leagues Cup, The CONCACAF Champions League, The U.S. Open Cup, and the Campones Cup, there are no excuses for LAFC.
The Black and Gold have a team to beat anyone, although five teams from the Eastern Conference performed better than LAFC this season. Los Angeles FC is the favorite to win the MLS Cup.
