When the Los Angeles Football Club advanced to last season’s MLS Cup final, Dénis Bouanga was still finding his way on a new team and in a new country.
Bouanga was still important to the team’s finish and playoff run last year, but this season’s Golden Boot winner as the league-leading scorer is far more comfortable as he aims to help Los Angeles FC secure a second straight title.
“I was a part of the preseason, so it was easier than last year. Last year, I arrived just for the MLS Cup and we won, but I was not really at my level,” the French winger said. “This year, because I started in the preseason, I was able to step up my game being with the team on the field, but also on the language.”
LAFC visits the Columbus Crew at 4 p.m. Saturday in the MLS Cup title match, which will be televised by Fox, with a chance to become just the fourth team in league history with back-to-back championships — and the first since the Los Angeles Galaxy won in 2011-12.
Bouanga made the most of his full year in Los Angeles, taking home the Golden Boot after scoring 20 goals during the MLS regular season. He also had seven assists. He had 37 goals across all competitions.