Los Angeles Football Club secured a 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake on Wednesday night, July 22, 2026, marking a successful return to action following the FIFA World Cup break. Son Heung-Min and Denis Bouanga provided early offensive momentum at BMO Stadium, overcoming a dominant statistical performance from the visitors to secure the win for the home side.
Early Offensive Surge
The match saw a dominant start for the Black & Gold, who utilized their home-field advantage to establish a commanding lead. In the 11th minute, Son Heung-Min scored his second goal in as many games, receiving a pass from Jacob Shaffelburg following a long ball from Nkosi Tafari. Son ran toward the Real Salt Lake defense before striking a left-footed shot from the edge of the box into the net.
LAFC extended their lead in the 40th minute when Denis Bouanga found the back of the net for his eighth league goal of the season. Bouanga received a through-ball from Mathieu Choinière, cutting onto his right foot to fire a shot from 12 yards out. This scoring surge provided a 2-0 halftime cushion for the Los Angeles side.
Salt Lake Pressure and Own Goal
Real Salt Lake demonstrated significant offensive pressure throughout the contest, recording a season-high 28 shots. Despite the volume of attempts, the visitors struggled to find the net until late in the second half. Hugo Lloris, the LAFC goalkeeper, recorded six saves during the match, equaling his season high from an April 4 victory over Orlando City.
LAFC added a third goal in the 68th minute when a cross from Son Heung-Min deflected off DeAndre Yedlin and past goalkeeper Rafael Cabrera, resulting in an own goal. This goal extended the lead to 3-0, though it also marked the end of a 297-minute scoreless streak for LAFC that had lasted since May 17 against Nashville SC.
Engel and Lobjanidze Shine
The visitors finally broke through in the 86th minute when Lukas Engel scored a deflected strike from close range. The goal was assisted by Georgian international Saba Lobjanidze, who made his debut for Real Salt Lake in the 78th minute after being traded from Atlanta United on July 1. Lobjanidze became the 237th player in the club's 22-year history and the eighth player to record an assist in a debut.
Engel, a Danish defender who has played 50 MLS matches, recorded his first-ever MLS goal during the match. Following the game, Engel noted that the team achieved an expected goals (xG) value of 3.00, despite the loss. He also credited teammate Zavier Gozo for helping create the scoring opportunity by blocking an opponent.
Conference Standings and Outlook
The victory moves LAFC to a 9-5-3 record for the season, placing them in third place in the Western Conference, just two points behind the Vancouver Whitecaps and San Jose Earthquakes. The club has now won three consecutive matches, including a victory over Seattle on May 24, and has won each of its last three meetings against Real Salt Lake, outscoring them 11-3 in that span.
For Real Salt Lake, the loss marks their first MLS match in over eight weeks. The team now turns its attention to a road trip starting Saturday, July 25, against the Portland Timbers at Providence Park. Following the Portland match, the club will visit St. Louis City SC on August 1 before returning home to Sandy, Utah, on August 4 for the start of the Leagues Cup campaign.
Upcoming Schedule
The upcoming schedule for Real Salt Lake includes a busy period of five matches in 15 days starting in August. This stretch includes Leagues Cup matches against Tigres UANL on August 4, Atlante FC on August 8, and FC Juarez on August 11. The club will return to MLS competition on August 15 against Minnesota United.
