Bouanga nets double in LAFCs 4-1 victory over Austin to progress in MLS Cup playoffs

Los Angeles FC secured a 4-1 win against Austin FC on Sunday thanks to a brace from Denis Bouanga and goals from Son Heung-min and Jeremy Ebobisse advancing them in the MLS Cup playoffs.

This result in Austin Texas clinched a 2-0 series win for LAFC in the best-of-three first round.

Next they face a single Western Conference semi-final against Thomas Muller and Vancouver Whitecaps who defeated FC Dallas on Saturday.

Bouanga and Son once more led the attack with their prolific scoring.

Son the South Korean former Tottenham skipper who joined in August scored first in the 21st minute. After Bouangas pass on a counter Son ran down the left flank and fired a powerful right-foot shot into the bottom right corner.

Just three minutes on another swift LAFC break saw Son pass to Bouanga on the left edge of the box with the Gabonese player striking low into the bottom left as Austin keeper Brad Stuver rushed back to his goal line.

Bouanga extended the lead to 2-1 in the 44th minute while Austin responded in first-half added time via a penalty from Dani Pereira that just crept past LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Earlier Lloris had dived to stop a penalty from Myrto Uzuni in the 39th minute following a handball by Bouanga in the box.

Substitute Ebobisse scored LAFCs final goal in second-half stoppage time.

Columbus Crew thrashed 10-man FC Cincinnati 4-0 forcing a third and decisive game in their Eastern Conference series.

American international Max Arfsten gave hosts Columbus the lead in the 33rd minute taking a pass from Diego Rossi near the box and evading onrushing Cincinnati keeper Roman Celino before slotting into the empty net.

Five minutes later Cincinnati suffered further when Yuya Kubo received a red card for fouling Andres Herrera outside the penalty area.

Dylan Chambost made it 2-0 in the 41st minute with Herrera and Jacen Russell-Rowe scoring in the second half to confirm the victory.

Russell-Rowe entered in the 61st minute and quickly impacted play assisting Herreras 65th-minute goal with a cross to the box centre and then netting himself in the 69th.

Tied 1-1 in the series Cincinnati will host the winner-takes-all third match on Saturday.

The series victor will meet either Lionel Messis Inter Miami or Nashville in the Eastern Conference semi-final.