Los Angeles FC can continue to dream of defending their MLS title. Timothy Tillman & Co. ended an impressive run in Seattle. For underdog Kansas City, meanwhile, it was over in Houston
No team in the MLS has managed to defend their title since the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2011 and 2012. But now it could happen again – and again with a franchise from L.A. Los Angeles FC reached the Conference Finals in the West again on Monday night (CET) with a narrow 1:0 win at the Seattle Sounders. The winner there gets to play for the MLS Cup.
And once again, the goalscorer could be relied upon. Denis Bouanga, French-born and Gabon international, scored the winner in the 30th minute when he ploughed the ball through almost the entire home side’s half and slotted it into the far corner of the penalty area.
Ex-Munich, Nuremberg and Fürth man Timothy Tillman was credited with an assist, but it was ultimately a superb individual effort from Bouanga. The 29-year-old had already finished the regular season as top scorer with 20 goals and now scored his fourth goal in the current play-offs. He has scored in each of his last six games
However, the visitors also had goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau to thank for his strong saves time and again, while they managed just two shots on goal. But that was enough for coach Steven Cherundolo’s side to inflict Seattle’s first home play-off defeat since 2013 (!) – and keep their eyes on the title defense.
Houston like 2017 – Leibold & Co.’s highs come to an end
LAFC will now face Houston Dynamo, who finished the regular season one point off fourth place in the West, next Saturday. The Texans defeated Sporting Kansas City 1-0 at home, who first earned a play-off ticket via a penalty shoot-out in the Wildcard Games and then surprisingly defeated the top team in the West, St. Louis City SC.
Argentinian defender Franco Escobar headed in from a corner in the 39th minute to send Houston into the conference finals for the first time in six years. Since then, the franchise had never reached the play-offs. Former Nuremberg and Hamburg player Tim Leibold started for Kansas City, with Erik Thommy (Augsburg, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, among others) another ex-Bundesliga professional coming on as a substitute.
