LOS ANGELES (AP) — Denis Bouanga scored on a first-half penalty and Cristian Olivera scored early in the second to lead Western Conference regular-season champion Los Angeles FC to a 2-game win -1 against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday evening. a best-of-three first-round series of the Major League Soccer Cup.

LAFC took a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute on Bouanga’s PK goal. The defending conference champions were awarded the spot kick after a foul was called on Vancouver defender Tristan Blackmon. It was Bouanga’s eighth playoff goal in his ninth career start. Bouanga has scored 20 regular season goals in each of the last two seasons.

LAFC took a two-goal lead in the 57th minute when Olivera used assists from Mateusz Bogusz and defender Ryan Hollingshead to score his first playoff goal in his sixth playoff appearance – it all starts. Bogusz notched his second career assist in his second start and sixth playoff appearance. It was Hollingshead’s second assist in 20 career postseason appearances with 17 starts.

Vancouver avoided the shutout when Ryan Gauld scored in the fifth minute of added time. Gauld scored a hat trick for his first three career playoff goals in the Whitecaps’ 5-0 win over the Portland Timbers.

Hugo Lloris, in his first season in the league, finished with three saves in goal for LAFC.

Yohei Takaoka, who was coming off his first playoff shutout in the win over the Timbers, made two saves in his fourth playoff start.

This is the second straight playoff meeting between the two clubs in the first round. LAFC swept away the Whitecaps last season with a 5-2 home win before winning 1-0 away. LAFC took a 3-0 home win and a 2-1 win in Vancouver during the regular season.

The Whitecaps will host LAFC – aiming for a third straight Cup final appearance – on Sunday at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver.

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