Whitecaps suffer blowout loss to reigning champion LAFC in MLS playoff opener

Defender Ryan Hollingshead and Golden Boot Award-winner Denis Bouanga both scored goals in each half and Los Angeles FC began defence of its title with a 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps in a Major League Soccer playoff opener on Saturday night.

LAFC (15-10-10), the third seed in the Western Conference, grabbed a 1-0 lead on an unassisted goal by Hollingshead in the 18th minute. Brian White scored the equalizer for sixth-seeded Vancouver (12-11-12) in the 27th minute with an assist from Andres Cubas.

LAFC regained the lead two minutes later when Bouanga took passes from Diego Palacios and Giorgio Chiellini and scored. The Whitecaps pulled even at halftime after Ryan Gauld set up a goal by defender Sam Adekugbe in the 40th minute.

Hollingshead gave LAFC the lead for good, scoring unassisted in the 52nd minute. Bouanga added an insurance goal in the 64th with an assist from Carlos Vela. Defender Jesus Murillo took a pass from Mateusz Bogusz and scored in the 80th minute to complete the scoring.

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