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It was no secret what was at stake in the FIFA Club World Cup play-in — millions of dollars, a potential boon for the future. And with one shot, LAFC cashed in.
In a marathon match, Dénis Bouanga scored in the 115th minute to lift LAFC to a 2-1 comeback win over Club América at BMO Stadium on Saturday night, pushing LAFC into the FIFA Club World Cup.
Bouanga’s right-footed shot from outside the box glanced off the left calf of América defender Miguel Vázquez, redirecting the ball into the back of the net and baffling goalkeeper Luis Malagón.
Bouanga said tears streamed down his face and goose bumps covered his body as his teammates piled on him in a joyful embrace.
“It was the goal that put Los Angeles on the front stage in the world,” Bouanga said. “I had this rage in me. I wanted that.”
LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo left his spot on the sideline, sprinting to the corner to join a jubilant celebration. It was the culmination of three years of hard work and belief — all of it pouring out in raw, unfiltered emotions.
“It’s exactly what you saw, just pure,” Cherundolo said. “It’s me wanting to celebrate with our players and our fans, because they deserve it, we deserve it.”
After Club León — last year’s CONCACAF champion — was disqualified and the play-in was announced, many within LAFC believed that, as the previous runner-up, they should have automatically qualified.
“Carpe diem, right?” Cherundolo said. “This was an opportunity that showed up in our lives three weeks ago. None of us thought we’d get a second crack at this. … We took advantage.”
LAFC will receive $9.55 million just for qualifying for the Club World Cup, which begins June 14 and will take place in cities across the United States.
At first, Cherundolo bristled at being forced to qualify via the play-in game. He later called the victory “the most gratifying moment” of his tenure with LAFC.
“This feels amazing. There’s no better way to qualify for a tournament than by winning games,” he said, adding that it felt like “a little bit of redemption for the Champions Cup loss against Club León.”
The participation payday is the equivalent of nearly half of LAFC’s $20-million payroll — a potential boon for a team that could try to land a marquee star in the months ahead. The win over Club América also means $1 million will be split among LAFC’s 30 players.
The 32-team tournament will allow LAFC to raise its profile on the global stage — Premier League blueblood Chelsea is among the teams LAFC will face in group play. The total prize pool for the Club World Cup is more than $1 billion.
It took some late-game heroics for LAFC to earn one of its biggest wins in franchise history.
Uruguayan winger Brian Rodríguez, who played with LAFC from 2019 to 2022 before being sold to América, scored on a penalty kick in the 64th minute after LAFC’s Mark Delgado fouled Erick Sánchez. Rodríguez buried a right-footed shot past the outstretched arms of LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to give América a 1-0 lead.
The MLS club not only is looking to expand its brand globally while earning $9.55 million for making tournament, but forging a pathway to lucrative future.
LAFC refused to let victory slip away.
After putting relentless pressure on the América defense for most of the second half, Igor Jesus scored on a header off a corner kick by Bouanga to tie the score in the 89th minute.
Cherundolo said the team’s ability “to go down, come back and score — to always be dangerous and manage the game the way we did” showed an extreme amount of togetherness from the players and staff.”
Ultimately, Bouanga would prove to be the hero in a game loaded with significance for the players, team and fans.
“Day in and day out, Denis is a competitor,” Cherundolo said of his star Frenchman, whom he’s shared the last four seasons with.
Everyone in BMO Stadium felt the weight of the matchup, with many of the home crowd calling it the biggest game in the club’s history: bigger than any MLS Cup championship or CONCACAF Champions League final.
The gravity of the moment was unmistakable — the consequences of a loss, and the eventual magnitude of a win.
“It might be the most important year for L.A.,” Bouanga said. “We were not supposed to go there. They created that final against Club América. So it’s very important. It’s great for the club, for Los Angeles. For myself.”
Go beyond the scoreboard
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