Denis Bouanga proved that he was the Black & Gold’s stoppage-time saviour for the second week in a row. He found a 92nd-minute winner against the Portland Timbers on Saturday evening.
Bouanga’s efforts was enough to give LAFC a 3-2 win at BMO stadium, despite witnessing a two-goal lead slip on the road in the second half.
“I hate to lose, I just want to win,” Bouanga said post-match via a translator. “I’m addicted to victory. I know if I can score in the [92nd] minute, I’ll do everything. I love to hear the fans chanting my name. Because, you see, I’m addicted to victory and I love it too much to stay at a tie.”
Bouanga who was the Landon Donovan MVP runner-up and Golden Boot last year in an award awarded by Audi, has six goals in his last six games. His latest masterpiece was after a 95th-minute equalizer against the New York Red Bulls, securing a 2-2 draw last weekend.
After failing to score in LAFC’s first four games this campaign. The Gabon international seems to have found his groove. However, head coach Steve Cherdunolo still expects more.
“As finishing in the box – yes. I think that his timing of runs and him being dangerous – yes, in possession. So if you are just thinking final third, I think he is improving there for sure,” Cherundolo said.
“But leading up to the final third, I think he has a lot of improvement to go. And it’s not so much that he needs to improve, a player of his age and his ability, but it’s more of just being consistent with his decision-making along the lines of our game model. I think that would go a long way for the group, more importantly, and of course for Denis himself.
“The game, from our end into the own box or the final third, should be very simple and very repetitive and very predictable for your own teammates. Unfortunately, his decision-making doesn’t make it predictable at times, and you can throw a few guys in that same boat as well.”
Bouanga is putting balls in the back of the net when it matters the most. During Matchday 11, that meants securing three points after Portland dropped to 10 men when Diego Chara receieved a red card in the 76th minute.
The next step? For LAFC and Bouanga to secure a result much earlier.
“I know that a game can last all the way to 94 minutes or more,” Bouanga said. “So to be able to do this for my team, whether with an assist or a goal, is always great. But if we can make a decision much earlier in the game that would be great as well.”
