Bouanga, Crépeau spark LAFC to victory, first-round sweep of Whitecaps
Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga (99) is upended by Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, bottom, who slides to take the ball away from him during the second half in Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC’s Cristian Olivera, left, and Vancouver Whitecaps’ Sam Adekugbe, right, vie for the ball during the second half in Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka dives to make a save against Los Angeles FC during the second half in Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC’s Nathan Ordaz, left, grabs the jersey of Vancouver Whitecaps’ Andres Cubas as they vie for the ball during the second half in Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, left, prepares to stop Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White (24) during the second half in Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga (99) is upended by Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld, bottom, who slides to take the ball away from him during the second half in Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Referee Tim Ford, center right, is followed by Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ali Ahmed, center left, and Sam Adekugbe, back left, as he leaves the field after Los Angeles FC defeated the Whitecaps in Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, left, stops Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White (24) during the second half in Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Pedro Vite lies on the field after Los Angeles FC defeated his team in Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini, center front, is restrained by a member of the team’s staff after he went on the field and tried to get to referee Tim Ford after receiving a red card during the second half in Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match against Los Angeles FC in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Pedro Vite lies on the field after Los Angeles FC defeated his team in Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, right, stops Los Angeles FC’s Mario Gonzalez (9) during the first half in Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White reacts after the bail went out of play when he blocked a pass by Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau during the first half in Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga (99) scores against Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, back left, on a penalty kick during the first half in Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Pedro Vite, left, and Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga (99) vie for the ball during the first half in Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau dives for the ball as it goes wide of the goal and out of play after it was headed back to him by teammate Ryan Hollingshead during the first half in Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match against the Vancouver Whitecaps in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga flips as he celebrates after his penalty kick goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the first half in Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Sam Adekugbe, left, and Los Angeles FC’s Diego Palacios (12) vie for the ball during the first half in Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC co-owner, comedian and actor Will Ferrell, center, greets Vancouver Whitecaps fans as he leaves the field before Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles FC co-owners, Shaun Neff, left, and comedian and actor Will Ferrell, right, walk off the field before the Vancouver Whitecaps and LAFC play Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, bottom right, stops Los Angeles FC’s Mario Gonzalez (9) during the first half in Game 2 of a first-round MLS playoff soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Dénis Bouanga scored on a first-half penalty kick and Maxime Crépeau made it stand up against his former club as defending-champion Los Angeles FC finished off a first-round sweep of the Vancouver Whitecaps with a 1-0 victory on Sunday night.
Bouanga, who scored 20 goals during the regular season to win the Golden Boot and was named a finalist for the MVP award, scored on a penalty kick in the 24th minute to give LAFC (15-10-10) the lead. Bouanga took the PK after Mario González drew a foul on Whitecaps defender Tristan Blackmon.
Crépeau, a member of the Whitecaps from 2018-2021, finished with five saves to earn his second career clean sheet in the postseason — both with LAFC. Yohei Takaoka had six saves for Vancouver (12-11-12).
The Whitecaps won LAFC’s first four visits to Vancouver in all competitions, but LAFC has gone 2-0-1 since.
Bouanga and Ryan Hollingshead became the sixth pair of teammates to both score twice in the same match in LAFC’s 5-2 victory at home in the series opener. LAFC’s Carlos Vela and Adama Diomande did it in 2019. LAFC and the Los Angeles Galaxy are the only clubs to do it multiple times.
LAFC notched its seventh victory since August. The club scored at least four goals in each of the first six wins but managed just five goals in its other nine matches, going 0-5-4.
Bouanga, who had a goal waved off in second-half stoppage time, joins Atlanta United’s Thiago Almada and FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta as finalists for the league’s top player.
