Denis Bouanga scored from the penalty spot in the 90th minute after contributing an earlier assist to rally LAFC to a 3-3 draw against the host Portland Timbers on Saturday night.
Olivier Giroud added his first career MLS goal from a late first-half free kick in his 16th league appearance for LAFC (4-4-1, 13 points) dating back to August 2024.
Substitute David Martinez scored his team-leading third goal of the season as the Black-and-Gold erased a 2-0 deficit, then went behind again before earning a hard-fought point.
The performance was LAFC’s highest scoring in the league this season, though they also scored three times in a Concacaf Champions Cup second-round victory over the Columbus Crew on March 11.
Portland’s Felipe Mora also converted from the spot early en route to his third and fourth goals of the season as the Timbers extended their unbeaten run to six matches (3-0-3).
Santiago Moreno also scored for Portland (4-2-3, 15 points), which has 14 goals during those six games.
Mora’s second goal of the evening restored the Timbers’ one-goal advantage in the 66th minute, a lead they held until Bouanga got isolated on veteran Diego Chara on the left side of the penalty area.
As Bouanga tumbled to the ground under Chara’s challenge, referee Guido Gonzales Jr. originally waved play on. But after he was summoned to the replay monitor, he changed his ruling and pointed to the spot.
Bouanga sent an emphatic PK inside the right post as goalkeeper James Pantemis remained rooted to his spot.
Giroud also earned his opportunity late in the first half when he induced Kamal Miller into a foul maybe two yards beyond the penalty area.
Bouanga, who often takes free kicks, deferred to France’s all-time leading international goal scorer. And Giroud curled his left-footed strike perfectly over the defensive wall and then off the underside of the crossbar on its way over the line, making it 2-1 in the 45th minute.
Bouanga then helped set up Martinez for a 64th-minute equalizer, before Mora restored Portland’s lead on a header set up by Juan Mosquera and Jonathan Rodriguez two minutes later.
–Field Level Media
