Los Angeles FC rolled past Real Salt Lake with a 4-1 win at BMO Stadium, locking in their spot in the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. Denis Bouanga was the star of the night with three goals, reaching major career marks, while Son Heung-Min finally got his first strike in front of the home fans in Los Angeles. The victory pushed LAFC to 50 points this season and added another memorable chapter to a club that hasn’t been around long but already carries weight in the league.
The moment everything turned
Real Salt Lake drew first blood just 14 minutes in. Brayan Vera unleashed a rocket from distance that flew into the top corner, completely against the flow of play. Up to that point, LAFC had been on the front foot, creating chances and pushing hard. The response, though, came in first-half stoppage time and completely flipped the script. Bouanga leveled the score after a slick exchange of passes, grabbing his 20th goal of the year and becoming the first MLS player ever to hit 20 or more goals in three straight seasons. Just minutes later, Son took a feed from David Martínez, hit it with his left, and saw the ball bounce off the post before sneaking in.
Bouanga historic, Son decisive
The scoreline held steady until midway through the second half. That’s when Son linked up with Andrew Moran and slipped Bouanga through on goal. The forward stayed composed and made it 3-1. With just over ten minutes left, Jeremy Ebobisse hustled to win a loose ball high up the field and quickly set up Bouanga, who finished cleanly to complete his hat trick.
That performance brought the Gabonese forward level with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race and set LAFC apart with a new milestone. For the first time in MLS history, one club has produced hat tricks in three consecutive matches. Bouanga scored three against San Jose back on September 13, Son fired in three against Real Salt Lake on September 17, and now the streak has been extended once again.