Sep 21, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles FC ahead Denis Bouanga (99) rejoice his objective in opposition to Actual Salt Lake throughout the first half at BMO Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Kelvin Kuo-Imagn Pictures Denis Bouanga scored his second hat trick in three video games to make some distinctive MLS historical past and raise LAFC to a 4-1 victory over visiting Actual Salt Lake on Sunday night.
Bouanga’s twentieth, twenty first and twenty second targets made him the primary participant within the league’s 30-year lifespan to equal or surpass 20 targets in three consecutive seasons and moved him even with Lionel Messi atop the MLS Golden Boot leaderboard.
Son Heung-min additionally scored his sixth objective in his seventh MLS match and had two assists for fourth-place LAFC (14-7-8, 50 factors), which moved 5 factors above fifth-place Seattle within the Western Convention and inside 4 of third-place Minnesota, which has performed two extra matches.
Both Bouanga or Son has scored every of LAFC’s 14 targets in a five-match run, together with all 12 in a latest three-match successful streak.
Brayan Vera’s early strike from distance gave Salt Lake (10-16-4, 34 factors) an early lead. However the guests’ early benefit become a 2-1 deficit after a pair of targets in first-half stoppage time, earlier than LAFC pulled away after the break.
Salt Lake stays twelfth within the Western Convention and three factors beneath the playoff line after a second loss in 5 days to LAFC, the earlier additionally a 4-1 affair performed in Utah.
Bouanga leveled within the first minute of first-half stoppage time, taking part in a tidy give-and-go with Son to advance into the penalty space earlier than sliding a low shot previous Rafael Cabral from shut vary.
Son adopted together with his newest distinctive effort from distance, taking a layoff from David Martinez after which guiding a 20-yard strike low off the within of the left submit past Cabral’s dive.
Son and Andrew Moran mixed on a intelligent, fast passing sequence to play Bouanga once more behind the again line within the 73rd minute for his second of the night.
With Son already summoned for an early exit, Bouanga’s hat trick was full on one other related wanting tally within the 87th minute, this time with Jeremy Ebobisse offering the service.
Vera put Salt Lake in entrance with a blistering 25-yard effort that beat Hugo Lloris’ dive to the highest left nook.
That accomplished a shiny begin by way of the opening quarter-hour for RSL, however the recreation movement rapidly turned, with LAFC forcing Cabral into three saves and likewise putting the woodwork earlier than discovering Bouanga’s leveler.
–Discipline Degree Media
