LAFC forward Olivier Giroud takes the pitch in his debut with the team in the 71st minute during LAFC’s 4-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes in the Leagues Cup Round of 16 match at BMO Stadium on Tuesday AUG 13, 2024. (LAFC)

by Marko Ukalovic

Denis Bouanga is making a case for MLS MVP.

The native French striker scored two goals as LAFC routed The San Jose Earthquakes 4-1 in a Leagues Cup Round of 16 match on Tuesday evening at BMO Stadium.

San Jose’s Leagues Cup Cinderella run came to an end as this is the farthest the Earthquakes have gone in the two years of the tournament that features MLS clubs against Liga MX clubs. LAFC advanced to its second straight Leagues Cup quarterfinals where they will take on the Seattle Sounders who beat Liga MX club Pumas 4-0 on Monday night.

Olivier Giroud made his LAFC debut when he came in as a substitute for Christian Olivera in 71st minute. LAFC signed the 37-year-old French striker on back on May 14th as an international roster spot through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026. Giroud is the all-timer leading goal scorer for the French National Team with 57 goals.

LAFC drew first blood in the 17th minute. Ryan Hollingshead won a 50-50 ball against Benji Kikanovic that led to a breakaway for Olivera. The Uruguayan striker raced down the left wing, made a move around Daniel Munie before beating Quakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough with a right footed shot into the lower right corner of the net.

San Jose had a chance for an immediate response a minute later when Cristian Espinoza fired a shot from just outside the box, but it was knocked away from danger by LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

The Earthquakes were denied once again Lloris trying to even the match. Jeremy Ebobisse threaded a long ball between two LAFC defenders out to Amahl Pellegrino, but the French goalie made a diving one-handed save on Pellegrino’s strike in the 25th minute.

San Jose scored the equalizer late in the first half. Cristian Espinoza led an attack inside LAFC’s zone. Espinoza found Kikanovic along the right wing. Kikanovic sent a cross into the middle of the box where Hernán López beat Lloris with a sliding one-timer with the left foot in the 41st minute.

LAFC regained the lead just before the halftime. Eduard Atuesta was able to get inside the box unmarked in the second minute of stoppage time. Yarbrough tripped up Atuesta trying to get the ball away from him that resulted in a penalty kick. Three minutes later LAFC leading goal scorer Denis Bouanga finished off the penalty kick as he beat Yarbrough high to the right corner of the net.

The Earthquakes had a quality chance in the 57th minute to score the second equalizer of the game. Espinoza sent in a chip pass over to Jackson Yueill inside the box, but the Quakes captain’s shot just sailed wide left of the net.

LAFC went up 3-1 on a fluke goal in the 61st minute. Ilie Sanchez fed a pass over to Mateusz Bogusz who dribbled up the pitch unmarked before firing a shot from the right half-space off of the hand of Yarbrough, who was in position to make the save, and into the back of the net.

Bouanga recorded his brace five minutes later in the 66th minute. LAFC used a counterattack after a Quakes turnover. Olivera sent a long ball out to a wide open Bouanga on the right wing. Bouanga cut back toward the middle past Rodrigues before burying the ball into the lower left corner of the net.

Lloris made two saves on three shots on goal to earn the victory. Yarbrough, who had a rough night between the pipes, made two saves on six shots on net in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with no corner kicks in the match. LAFC had two.

Bouanga has 10 goals over the last seven Leagues Cup matches.

UP NEXT: San Jose returns to MLS action when they take on Real Salt Lake on Saturday 8/24 at 6:30pm at America First Field.