LAFC’s Historic Attacking Duo Powers Playoff Push Against Struggling Atlanta United
LAFC is closing out the regular season playing its best soccer of the year. Four consecutive wins have lifted the team’s mood, creating an easy confidence around the locker room. On Sunday, they’ll host Atlanta United at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, sitting fourth in the Western Conference. To keep their hopes of a higher finish alive, winning this home match has become essential.
It’s no mystery where LAFC’s spark is coming from. Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-Min have been unstoppable, combining to score the team’s last 17 goals—an unprecedented feat in MLS history. Since Son’s debut in August, the duo has become the undeniable heartbeat of LAFC’s attack.
Bouanga is on a remarkable tear, finding the net 23 times in his last 23 matches. With 23 goals and 8 assists this season, he trails only Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. Son has been equally sharp, contributing eight goals and three assists in just eight games, averaging a goal approximately every 58 minutes.
This firepower has made LAFC the third-highest scoring team in the league. Their +23 goal differential also ranks second in MLS, a sign of a balanced team that is strong at the back and dangerous up front.
Under manager Steve Cherundolo, the team has started to gel with its new additions. With veteran goalkeeper Hugo Lloris anchoring the defense and the attack in full rhythm, LAFC looks poised to secure a top-four spot and home-field advantage for the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
For Atlanta United, the situation couldn’t be more different. The club arrives in Los Angeles in full crisis mode, sitting 14th in the Eastern Conference and already eliminated from playoff contention. Their record of just five wins in 31 games tells the story of a season that has gone completely off the rails.
Defense has been a constant issue, with the team conceding 57 goals while scoring only 37. Despite a few bright individual performances, the team has lacked chemistry, urgency, and belief. Their road form has been especially poor, with just one win away from home all season.
