With four regular-season games left, fan appreciation day at BMO Stadium won’t be the last time Los Angeles Football Club supporters watch their team at home prior to the MLS Cup playoffs.
However, before the opening-round best-of-three series later this month, a Sunday evening kickoff against Atlanta United FC presents a final opportunity to see Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-min torment defenders in front of the 3252.
Coming off a banner month when LAFC took full points in four matches and outscored opponents 15-4 – all courtesy of Bouanga and Son – Steve Cherundolo’s group is again positioned for a late surge up the Western Conference standings.
Voted MLS player of the month for the second time in September, Bouanga delivered eight goals and an assist, tying Son and Lionel Messi for the most goal contributions over that span.
With the 30-year-old finishing in a personal-best five consecutive league games, the nine-goal outburst made Bouanga LAFC’s all-time leading scorer, as well as the only player in MLS history to produce three consecutive 20-goal regular seasons.
In the heat of the playoff push, both attackers are set to miss make-up games at home Wednesday versus Toronto and at Austin next Sunday, opting to join their respective national teams during the FIFA international window.
Pursuing a historic World Cup qualification effort, Bouanga’s Gabon takes on Gambia and Burundi in Africa.
“It’s a hard choice,” Bouanga said through an interpreter. “Both Gabon, my national team, and the club are important.”
Cherundolo doesn’t like Bouanga missing games, but as a longtime American international he can empathize, particularly because the moment is a byproduct of LAFC’s successful Club World Cup qualification in June.
“There is a struggle there and I completely get it,” Cherundolo said. “Denis wants the best for LAFC. Denis wants the best for Gabon. And Denis wants the best for Denis. And I’m pretty sure it’s in that order. So there is a conflict of interest and I think the way I’ve gotten to know him is he will try to accomplish all of that.”
Mathieu Choinière (Canada), Nathan Ordaz (El Salvador) and Adrian Wibowo (Indonesia) are also unavailable from the final whistle Sunday night until Decision Day on Oct. 18 in Colorado
Prior to untimely international departures, a full-strength LAFC (15-7-8, 53 points) – including goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who practiced after being pulled at halftime following a heavy collision last weekend – can still lock down a top-four seed with its fifth consecutive victory.
At worst, securing three of 12 remaining points guarantees LAFC home-field advantage for Round 1. At best, going 12 for 12 would mean the conference top spot is very much up for grabs, as is a coveted CONCACAF Champions Cup berth based on regular-season results.
“This week was excellent again in training,” said Cherundolo, who earned his 100th win in the previous match at St. Louis. “I can see the communication amongst the players, that they feel like this is an opportunity.
“We’re in a very good moment to maximize points and that’s what we’re trying to do. But it is important not to get ahead of yourself and just focus on the next game.”
Atlanta (5-4-12, 27 points) appears highly exploitable, especially in transition where LAFC thrives. The second-to-last-place Eastern Conference team has earned a solitary win over its past 15 games, which happened to be its lone away victory of the season at the end of August in Nashville.
ATLANTA UNITED AT LAFC
When: 6 p.m. Sunday
Where: BMO Stadium
TV/Radio: Apple TV+ (MLS Season Pass), TikTok/710 AM, 980 AM, 1230 AM