LOS ANGELES — Play Mateusz Bogusz wherever you like.
This season Steve Cherundolo has and the Los Angeles Football Club repeatedly reaps the rewards.
The 23-year-old Polish attacker again proved his considerable worth to LAFC, delivering the game-winning goal Friday to clinch a best-of-3 first-round MLS Cup playoff series over the Vancouver Whitecaps at BMO Stadium.
Bogusz’s career-high 20th goal in all competitions broke a tightly contested scoreless tie in the 62nd minute.
LAFC maintained their 1-0 lead for the remainder of the match, bunkering down as Vancouver valiantly fought for an equalizer.
After succumbing to the Whitecaps on Sunday in Canada, leveling the series at one win apiece, LAFC altered its starting lineup for the first time.
Cherundolo went with Brazilian defender Marlon Santos on the back line to begin the do-or-die finale and pushed Sergi Palencia up to a wingback spot while Cristian Olivera advanced into a forward role.
LAFC also dropped French striker Giroud to the bench for the first time in eight games and left center forward Kei Kamara off the game day team sheet.
In Giroud’s place started Bogusz, who reoccupied a role he executed incredibly well until Giroud’s arrival in August, when the high-priced Designated Player was inserted as the No. 9.
Bogusz remained a constant presence on the field, however, serving as a winger or in the middle of the park, sometimes switching between both in the same game.
Cherundolo’s first-half adjustments did little to bother Vancouver, as the visitors controlled the middle of the park, overrunning and outshooting the top seed in the West for 45 minutes.
Halftime brought more alterations to LAFC’s personnel and formation.
Cherundolo removed Olivera and Marlon in favor of an additional midfielder, Eduard Atuesta. The frustrated Frenchman, Giroud, who had gone scoreless in his last seven appearances, also entered as Bogusz moved to the wing.
Playing a 4-3-3 accomplished exactly what LAFC hoped it would.
After taking just four shots in the first half, none on frame, and suffering against 60% possession by Vancouver, LAFC rewrote the story by pressuring the Whitecaps in the final third, winning multiple corner kicks and creating dangerous chances.
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The one they got developed when defender Aaron Long smashed a header from midfield toward the Whitecaps goal. The ball took a deflection off a Vancouver player and found Bogusz, who took two touches into the box before cutting a shot across the frame with this left foot that beat goalkeeper Yohei Takoaka.
For Bogusz, the MLS player of the month in June, the finish was his fifth game-winner in league competition this year.
None was bigger than Friday’s effort, which earned LAFC a date in the conference semifinals on Nov. 23 or 24 at BMO Stadium against the Seattle Sounders.