Los Angeles FC delivered a commanding performance against FC Dallas on Saturday night at BMO Stadium, securing a 2-0 victory that marked their second consecutive win following a challenging stretch in the FIFA Club World Cup. The Black and Gold showcased their offensive prowess and defensive solidity, with Denis Bouanga playing a pivotal role by earning a penalty, converting it, and assisting on Nathan Ordaz's opening goal in a dominant first half.
LAFC's win improved their MLS record to 9-5-5, accumulating 32 points and climbing to sixth place in the Western Conference. This match also extended their unbeaten home streak against FC Dallas to six straight wins, continuing a trend of dominance at BMO Stadium where LAFC has been nearly impregnable, boasting an unbeaten record in 26 of their last 30 home league matches.
The first goal came in the 31st minute, capitalizing on a costly turnover by FC Dallas deep in their defensive third. Mark Delgado quickly passed to Bouanga, who then found Ordaz inside the penalty area. The 21-year-old Los Angeles native, representing El Salvador internationally, controlled the ball and struck a precise right-footed shot into the far post, marking his fifth MLS goal of the season and the first time he has scored in consecutive games. This goal was also assisted by Bouanga, who extended his team-leading assist tally to seven for the campaign.
Just before halftime, Bouanga himself doubled the lead. After powering into the box and splitting two defenders, he was fouled by FC Dallas defender Shaq Moore, earning a penalty. Bouanga calmly converted from the spot for his tenth goal of the season, a feat he has now achieved for the third consecutive year, joining Diego Rossi as the only LAFC players to reach double-digit goals in three straight seasons. This penalty was Bouanga's fifth successful conversion in MLS this year.
LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo praised the team's rhythm and confidence, highlighting the progress made since their recent international competition. "There is rhythm, that’s great to see," Cherundolo said. "There is confidence, that’s also good to see. But it’s well-earned, I think. There’s a lot of good moments in training sessions the last couple weeks, where I think we’ve grown and realized things as a group that we need to sharpen up and we need to maintain in order to sustain performances and results like this." Cherundolo's words reflected a team regaining momentum after their 0-2-1 run in the Club World Cup group stage.
Midfielder Nathan Ordaz echoed the sentiment, emphasizing trust and confidence within the squad. "Against us, teams are just going to do that naturally when you have dangerous threats," he said. "We just have to play, be confident, trust in each other’s movement, tactics and it went well today." The victory represents LAFC's first back-to-back league wins since the opening two matchdays of the season, signaling a potential turning point.
Defensively, LAFC was solid, with veteran goalkeeper Hugo Lloris making just one save to notch his eighth clean sheet of the season and twentieth over two campaigns with the club. The team dominated possession, controlling 62.1 percent of the ball, and outshot FC Dallas 17 to 11, including 10 shots on target compared to Dallas’ six. This offensive pressure kept FC Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes busy, as he made seven saves, matching his season high while wearing the captain’s armband for the second time this season.
Despite Paes’ efforts, FC Dallas struggled to find offensive rhythm. The team entered the match having lost three consecutive games and was unable to break through LAFC’s defense. Their attack was further hampered by injuries, with key players such as Geovane Jesus, Kamungo, Newman, Norris, and Pomykal sidelined, and Julio Santos and Urhoghide listed as doubtful. Former LAFC players Marco Farfan and Sebastien Ibeagha started for Dallas, while former Dallas defenders Nkosi Tafari and Ryan Hollingshead featured for LAFC, adding an intriguing subplot to the match.
FC Dallas honored the victims of the recent Central Texas floods by wearing black armbands before kickoff, a gesture that will continue throughout the season with a commemorative jersey patch debuting on July 19 against St. Louis CITY SC. However, this symbolic tribute could not translate into points on the scoreboard as Dallas remains in 13th place in the Western Conference with a record of 5-10-6 and 21 points.
Adding to LAFC’s concerns, team captain and defender Aaron Long suffered a non-contact leg injury in the 76th minute and was carted off the field on a motorized cart. Cherundolo addressed the incident post-match, saying, "Obviously it didn’t look good. Aaron will get through this, and so will we. Of course, it’s never great to see in any match, but I think, as bitter as it is in sports, the team always comes first. Individuals have to put their needs, wants just kind of on the back burner for now and Aaron will get through this. He’s been through it before. We need to keep moving forward as a group, and I thought the performance from the group was excellent tonight." The injury’s severity and Long’s availability for LAFC’s upcoming match against Minnesota on July 16 remain uncertain.
The win also marked LAFC’s second shutout in three games since their return from the Club World Cup, where they had struggled to advance out of group play, going 0-2-1. This recent surge includes Bouanga’s impressive form, having scored 10 goals and added six assists since mid-April, a period during which LAFC has lost only once in MLS competition.
Looking ahead, LAFC will travel to face second-place Minnesota United at Allianz Field on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, FC Dallas will seek to rebound when they visit the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park on the same evening. Dallas has collected 16 points on the road this season but continues to battle inconsistency and defensive lapses that have seen them concede 11 goals in their last four matches.
Saturday’s match was broadcast live on Apple TV in the United States, with kickoff at 10:30 p.m. ET, drawing an announced crowd of 22,117 fans at BMO Stadium. The event underscored LAFC’s growing confidence and tactical sharpness as they aim to solidify their playoff position, while FC Dallas faces the challenge of reversing their fortunes and snapping a four-game losing streak.
In sum, LAFC’s comprehensive 2-0 victory over FC Dallas not only extended their home dominance and improved their league standing but also showcased the resurgence of key players like Denis Bouanga and Nathan Ordaz. With momentum building and confidence restored, LAFC looks poised to push deeper into the MLS playoffs race, even as they manage the setback of Aaron Long’s injury. FC Dallas, meanwhile, must regroup quickly to halt their slide and find answers ahead of their crucial upcoming fixtures.
