LAFC wins 5-2 thriller over Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS Western Conference first round…as Denis Bouanga and Ryan Hollingshead score braces

Los Angeles City FC earned a hard-fought 5-2 victory in a thriller against the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Major League Soccer Western Conference playoffs.

Ryan Hollingshead opened the scoring fest when his own shot bounced straight back to his feet after he attempted to head home a corner kick, giving LA a 1-0 lead in the 18th.

Vancouver tied the game in less than 10 minutes when Brian White fired the ball past the goalkeeper in the 27th minute after a beautifully played pass.

Denis Bouanga responded two minutes later, reclaiming LA’s lead after sliding past two defenders and firing the ball into the net with just under a minute left.

The game got even more tense when Sam Adekugbe fired a corner kick into the air and headed home in the 40th minute.

LAFC defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-2 in a thriller in the first round of the MLS playoffs

Denis Bouanga #99 scored two outstanding goals to secure a brace for the thrilling win

Hollingshead was able to give LAFC the lead again when he scored his second goal of the night from close range after LA spun the ball around the penalty area from another corner.

Bouanga then put LA ahead by two points when he fired a low-line drive from several yards outside the 18-yard box from a set piece, scoring his second goal of the night.

To ensure the Whitecaps could overcome the lead, Jesus Murillo gave LAFC a three-goal lead in the 80th minute when his header clattered off the bottom of the crossbar and found its way into the net.

Four of LA’s five goals on the night came from set pieces as the winners showed a clear advantage as the game progressed.

They also proved to be the more accurate team in front of goal as Vancouver finished the game with a higher expected goals rate.

The two teams will face each other again on Sunday.