LAFC had a historic night on Wednesday dispatching Real Salt Lake on the road as they chase a top finish in the Western Conference.
Not only did summer signing Son Heung-min score his first hat-trick for the club, but Denis Bouanga bagged a 94th goal of his Black and Gold career becoming LAFC’s all-time top scorer. It was a title that Carlos Vela had a firm grasp on until Wednesday night.
“I’m simply really happy to have surpassed Carlos’s record and I’d like to thank the team for allowing me to do so,” the Gabon international said after the game. “I just wanted to say that’s just the beginning. I’m planning on scoring way more.”
Since coming over from Saint-Étienne in 2022, Bouanga has established himself as one of the best in Major League Soccer. The following season, he won the MLS and Concacaf Champions League Golden Boot awards, and is a three-time MLS All-Star.
Vela, still the club leader in games played, minutes, and assists, is one of the most decorated players in league history. The 2019 MLS Most Valuable Player holds the record for most goals (34) in a single season. The Mexican star retired at 35, so 30-year-old Bouanga putting considerable space between he and Vela doesn’t seem improbable after throwing down a personal challenge after the game.
