LAFC stormed back from two second-half deficits to earn a hard-fought 3-3 tie on the road against the Portland Timbers on Saturday night at Providence Park. Denis Bouanga led the way for LAFC with an assist and the game-tying goal in the 90th minute, while the Black & Gold also received a scintillating free kick goal from Olivier Giroud.
Portland got on the board first via a penalty kick from Felipe Mora in the 7th minute after he was fouled in the box by LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. The Timbers extended their lead to 2-0 in the 42ndminute on a goal by Santiago Moreno, setting the stage for Giroud’s heroics. In the 45th minute, the French legend scored his first MLS regular-season goal on a brilliant free kick from the top of the box that left Timbers goalkeeper James Pantemis flat-footed and made it 2-1 at the half.
Bouanga continued to put pressure on the Timbers defense in the second half, much like he did in the first 10 minutes of the game when he had two goals disallowed due to close offside calls. Bouanga helped tie the game at 2-2 when his cross in the 64th minute found David Martínez in front of the goal, and the talented youngster was able to re-direct it into the net.
The Timbers would retake the lead on a header by Mora just two minutes later.
It was Bouanga in crunch time again, tying the match 3-3 in the 90th minute by converting a penalty kick after he was brought down in the box by Diego Chara as he moved past the Portland midfielder on a promising attack.
LAFC continues MLS regular-season action on Sunday, April 27 against St. Louis CITY SC at BMO Stadium in a Sunday Night Soccer match-up at 4 p.m. PT (MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, 710 AM ESPN and 980 AM La Mera Mera).
NOTES
- With the tie, LAFC is now 4-4-1 for 13 points on the season.
- LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo received a red card (his second yellow) and was ejected from the match late in the second half. He received the initial yellow card from the Fourth Official in the first half.
- Olivier Giroud’s goal in the 45th minute was his first regular-season goal for LAFC, and his third overall. He previously scored in the 2024 Leagues Cup Final and the 2024 U.S. Open Cup Final.
- LAFC earned a point in tonight’s 3-3 tie with Portland despite the Timbers getting on the scoreboard first. This was the first time this season that LAFC earned a point when giving up the first goal. The Black & Gold is 0-6-1 (W-L-T) in all competitions when conceding first and 7-1-0 when scoring the first goal.
- After enduring the longest scoring drought of his MLS career, a six-game regular-season stretch from Feb. 22 – April 5, Bouanga has now scored in back-to-back games.
