LOS ANGELES — In a thrilling encounter at BMO Stadium, LAFC managed to claw back from behind twice to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw against St. Louis City SC on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Denis Bouanga was the star of the show, scoring both goals for LAFC, including a stunning equalizer in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
St. Louis City, who came into the match looking for their first victory against LAFC, initially took the lead when Cedric Teuchert scored in the 52nd minute. The goal came after a well-placed cross from Jannes Horn, marking Teuchert's second goal of the season and showcasing the visitors' resilience despite being reduced to ten men in the 83rd minute due to Alfredo Morales receiving a second yellow card.
LAFC, under the guidance of assistant coach Ante Razov—filling in for head coach Steve Cherundolo who was serving a one-game suspension—dominated possession and outshot St. Louis City 21-12 overall, with a 9-7 advantage in shots on target. However, they struggled to convert their chances in the first half, which ended scoreless despite a barrage of attempts.
It wasn’t until the 70th minute that LAFC found the back of the net. Bouanga, who has been in excellent form, connected with a curling left-footed cross from Cengiz Ünder, tapping it in to level the score at 1-1. This marked Bouanga's fourth goal of the season, and he had a chance to put LAFC ahead just five minutes later when he was awarded a penalty kick. However, his shot was saved by St. Louis goalkeeper Ben Lundt, who made a crucial stop to keep the match tied.
As the game entered its final moments, St. Louis City took the lead again in the 89th minute when a scramble in the LAFC penalty area resulted in an own goal off Nathan Ordaz, giving the visitors a 2-1 advantage. It was a heart-wrenching moment for LAFC, who had fought hard to get back into the match.
But Bouanga wasn’t done yet. With time running out in stoppage time, he picked up a pass from Ünder on the left wing. Showing his incredible skill, Bouanga maneuvered around two defenders and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot into the top corner, securing a vital point for LAFC and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
“I want to say that this draw is on me,” Bouanga expressed in a post-match interview, reflecting on his missed penalty that could have changed the outcome. “If I had scored the penalty, I think we would have won that game.” His assistant coach Razov echoed the sentiment, stating, “Denis is a big weapon of ours. He got us two goals, but we need other guys to score.”
Despite the draw, LAFC’s performance has shown promise, extending their unbeaten streak to three matches. They now hold a record of 4 wins, 4 losses, and 2 draws, accumulating 14 points in the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, St. Louis City remains winless against LAFC, with a record of 2 wins, 4 losses, and 4 draws, and they will be looking to turn their fortunes around in their upcoming match against the Seattle Sounders.
As the two teams prepare for their next fixtures—LAFC hosting the Houston Dynamo and St. Louis City traveling to Seattle—fans are left to ponder what might have been for both teams. With Bouanga in fine form and the team looking to build on this performance, the upcoming matches promise to be exciting as the season progresses.
