Mateusz Bogusz lifts LAFC over Whitecaps, into West semis

Mateusz Bogusz scored in the second half and top-seeded Los Angeles FC protected the lead to notch a 1-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Friday night and win the decisive third game of their Western Conference first-round series.

Bogusz scored in the 62th minute for top-seeded LAFC, who won the series despite scoring just three goals.

Hector Lloris made two saves for LAFC, who will face the fourth-seeded Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference semifinals.

Yohei Takaoka made one save for the eighth-seeded Whitecaps.

Both teams took 12 shots and both put two on target.

LAFC's breakthrough goal started with the club winning the ball in the midfield. Aaron Long headed the ball up field to Bogusz, who maneuvered around Vancouver defender Ranko Veselinovic to create some space and then drilled a left-footed shot past Takaoka into the right portion of the net.

The Whitecaps nearly tied the score in the 74th minute. Vancouver's Ryan Gauld took a free kick and one of his teammates headed the ball as part of the humanity near the LAFC wall.

That contact changed the speed of Gauld's kick and Vancouver's Tristan Blackmon ended up behind everyone and headed the ball into the net. Blackmon was immediately flagged for offside, and the Whitecaps' goal was nullified.

Vancouver didn't produce a single good chance during the five minutes of second-half stoppage time.

LAFC picked up the pace after a scoreless first half and Denis Bouanga created a chance in the 54th minute. Located to the left of the net, he moved the ball to his off-foot and poked a right-footed shot that went over the right corner of the net.

Eight minutes later, Bogusz scored the only goal that was required as LAFC eliminated the Whitecaps from the playoffs for the second straight season.

LAFC won Game 1 of this year's series by a 2-1 score. Vancouver recovered with a 3-0 win in Game 2.

Bouanga had an opportunity in the seventh minute but sent a close left-footed shot into the side netting.

Twenty minutes later, Vancouver's Brian White sent a hard left-footed shot on target that Lloris was able to stop. That was the only shot on target by either team in the first half.

White had another chance in the 43rd minute and he chipped a right-footer past Lloris, but the ball squirted wide to the left.

--Field Level Media