Bouanga goal the difference as LAFC downs Toronto FC in MLS pre-season play

By: The Canadian Press Posted: 6:17 PM CST Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024 Last Modified: 7:00 PM CST Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024

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LOS ANGELES - Dénis Bouanga's second-half goal lifted Los Angeles FC to a 1-0 win over Toronto FC in an MLS pre-season game Saturday at the LAFC Performance Center at Cal State LA.

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LOS ANGELES - Dénis Bouanga's second-half goal lifted Los Angeles FC to a 1-0 win over Toronto FC in an MLS pre-season game Saturday at the LAFC Performance Center at Cal State LA.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/02/2024 (963 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LOS ANGELES – Dénis Bouanga’s second-half goal lifted Los Angeles FC to a 1-0 win over Toronto FC in an MLS pre-season game Saturday at the LAFC Performance Center at Cal State LA.

Bouanga’s goal was fortuitous, essentially a cross that deflected in off a Toronto defender.

Bouanga, a designated player, scored 20 goals for LAFC last season. He came to MLS in August 2022 from AS Saint-Ètienne in France.

Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga smiles during the second half in the MLS playoff Western Conference final soccer match against Houston Dynamo, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, in Los Angeles. Denis Bouanga's second-half goal lifted Los Angeles FC to a 1-0 win over Toronto FC in an MLS pre-season game Saturday at the LAFC Performance Center at Cal State LA. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Marcio Jose Sanchez

Toronto was slated to return home after the match. The club opens the regular season on Feb. 25 at FC Cincinnati with the home opener two games later, March 9 against visiting Charlotte FC.

Toronto coach John Herdman liked what he saw despite the result.

“The result sometimes doesn’t reflect the performance. … I thought LAFC had their best lineup up today. We were able to put out maybe not our best lineup yet but close to it. And we really competed.”

“I thought they deserved more,” Herdman said of his players.

Federico Bernardeschi hit the woodwork twice for Toronto.

TFC previously played pre-season games against Nashville SC, the Columbus Crew and Real Salt Lake FC.

The Toronto starting 11 featured two unidentified trialists.

Defenders Shane O’Neill, Kobe Franklin and Raoul Petretta started in front of goalkeeper Sean Johnson. Captain Jonathan Osorio was in midfield along with Deybi Flores and Alonso Coello. Bernardeschi and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty also started.

Lorenzo Insigne did not dress for TFC for the second game in a row. Herdman said the Italian could probably have played if needed

“With it being pre-season, we’ve been very cautious with Lorenzo. … He’s not a guy you have to work with too much tactically. He’s always on the page. So we’re just making sure we can get something out of him for (the season opener in) Cincinnati and really just set him up for the season. That’s the key.”

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 17, 2024.