LOS ANGELES — Denis Bouanga once again delivered when Los Angeles FC needed him most. The Gabonese forward curled home a spectacular equalizer in the 79th minute to secure a 1-1 draw against the Portland Timbers on Saturday night, Aug. 22, 2026, at BMO Stadium.
The result snapped a two-game MLS losing streak for the Black & Gold and kept them third in the Western Conference with a 10-7-5 record and 35 points. It also prevented a third consecutive shutout defeat after recent 1-0 losses to San Diego FC and the Colorado Rapids.
Portland struck first in the fourth minute. Kristoffer Velde drove forward after an interception and slipped a pass to David Da Costa, who finished with a left-footed shot past Hugo Lloris at the near post for his third goal of the season. The Timbers (8-9-4, 28 points) carried that lead deep into the second half despite being under sustained pressure.
LAFC dominated the shot count, finishing with a club-record 34 attempts to Portland’s eight or nine, including 11 shots on target. Goalkeeper James Pantemis was outstanding for the visitors, recording 10 or 11 saves and repeatedly denying the home side. LAFC’s early chances included a Mathieu Choinière effort that Pantemis saved onto the crossbar.
Timothy Tillman started on the wing but exited in the 20th minute with a right hamstring issue, replaced by Jacob Shaffelburg. The injury highlighted LAFC’s midfield depth concerns as the summer transfer window nears its close.
Bouanga, who entered the match with 10 league goals, was relentless. He took a career-high 12 shots, six on target. In the 79th minute he received the ball near the left touchline from Jude Terry, drove inside past defenders, and from about 20 yards unleashed a right-footed curler into the top right corner. Pantemis had no chance. Some reports also credited Aaron Long with involvement in the build-up. The goal was Bouanga’s 11th of the MLS regular season, leaving him two shy of tying Carlos Vela’s club record of 78 league goals.
“I saw the space,” Bouanga said afterward. “Every time there’s no space but I saw the space and I thought I’d go alone and shoot.”
Head coach Marc Dos Santos praised the moment: “Denis had a very magical moment. It was a very important goal.” He noted the volume of chances created and that a 4-1 scoreline would not have been unfair.
Portland finished with 10 men after Vincent Janssen, a second-half substitute, received a second yellow card in the third minute of stoppage time. Bouanga still forced one final save from Pantemis late, but the points were shared.
The draw marked the fourth time this season LAFC earned a point after falling behind in MLS play. Despite the missed opportunities, the performance offered positives for a side that had struggled to convert dominance into results during a difficult stretch of August.
LAFC remains five points behind conference-leading Vancouver Whitecaps. Portland, under new head coach Martí Cifuentes and riding strong recent form, stayed in the playoff picture.
Bouanga continues to prove why he is one of the most reliable finishers in the league. On a night when finishing failed the Black & Gold for long stretches, their leading scorer provided the moment of quality that salvaged a hard-earned point in front of the home crowd at BMO Stadium.
Photos by: Fanny Ruiz – Article by Bruno De Witt Zanotto
