Hello Kitty Packed the House and Bouanga Stole the Show

BMO Stadium was dressed up for Hello Kitty Night on Wednesday, and LAFC made sure the party had something to celebrate. Denis Bouanga scored twice and Son Heung-Min added a goal and two assists as the Black & Gold rolled past Austin FC 3-1 to snap a four-game winless streak and breathe new life into their playoff push.

It was exactly the kind of performance LAFC needed. After a stretch that had left the club stuck in sixth place, interim head coach Xavi Tamarit picked up his first win in charge, and the squad delivered in front of a hungry crowd at BMO.

The first half was all LAFC in terms of chances, outshooting Austin 13-5, but nothing broke through. That changed in the 52nd minute when the connection everyone knows clicked. Delgado played it to Son, who threaded his way between two defenders at the edge of the six-yard box and found Bouanga alone in front of goal, who found the back net.

Austin leveled quickly. Brandon Vazquez finished low past Lloris off a Myrto Uzuni assist in the 66th minute to make it 1-1. But LAFC had the answer within 60 seconds. A Stuver clearance struck Son inside the box, the ball dropped to Bouanga and he rolled a calm right-footed finish past the goalkeeper. His 17th goal of the season. Just like that, 2-1.

The third sealed it in the 72nd minute with a goal that had everything. Bouanga won a header at midfield and flicked it to Shaffelburg on the left wing, who whipped a world class curling cross between two defenders. Son met it first time and put it away.

The numbers were staggering. LAFC finished with 28 shots to Austin's 14, forcing Stuver into 10 saves and hitting the crossbar twice. Son now leads MLS with 15 assists on the season, matching Carlos Vela's single-season club record set in his MVP year of 2019. Bouanga, with seven goals in his last eight games, now sits at 17 for the year and 82 in his MLS career, tied for 25th all-time in league history.

New loan signing Leo Walta made his first start for the club and made an impression, finishing with five shots including one that hit the crossbar. One to watch.

LAFC sit sixth in the West, one point behind Houston in fifth and two back of San Jose in fourth. The playoffs are right there.

Next up, LAFC head to New York to take on NYCFC at Citi Field on Saturday, October 17. Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. PT.