LAFC defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals at BC Place on Wednesday night.
LAFC would end a 0-0 stalemate in the 55th minute, with a three-goal flurry coming in the span of just 10 minutes, starting with a goal from Denis Bouanga in the 55th minute, followed by Mahala Opoku in the 61st minute and a second strike from Bouanga in the 65th minute. Bouanga now has five goals in his first three Concacaf Champions League appearances for LAFC.
The two teams reconvene for the second leg of the quarterfinals on Tuesday, April 11 at BMO Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. PT and will be televised live on FS1 and TUDN (Spanish).
NEWS & NOTES
- Including his two goals tonight against Vancouver, Denis Bouanga has scored five goals in his first three Concacaf Champions League games. He has now scored eight goals in eight games across all competitions in 2023.
- John McCarthy recorded one save on the night en route to his fifth shutout of the year across all competitions.
- LAFC is now 5-3-0 all-time in the Champions League, having reached the Final in 2020.
- Carlos Vela and Diego Palacios both played the full 90 for the Black & Gold and remain the only two LAFC players to appear in all eight of the clubs’ Champions League matches.
LAFC returns to MLS action this Saturday, April 8 when they host Austin FC at BMO Stadium. That game kicks off at 4:30 p.m. PT and can be seen live for free through MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app and on FOX and will be broadcast on radio on 710 AM ESPN LA/ESPN LA app and 980 La Mera Mera.
