Denis Bouanga scored twice to lift Los Angeles FC to their first road win, 2-0 against host St. Louis City on Wednesday.
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made seven saves for Los Angeles (6-4-3, 21 points) to earn his first MLS shutout.
St. Louis (3-2-7, 16 points) lost at home for the first time this season (3-1-3).
Lloris was tested in the 16th minute and came up big to deny St. Louis on a penalty kick. Omar Campos was called for a handball after video review, bringing Joao Klauss to the spot. A diving Lloris stretched out his right hand to keep the ball out and then stayed tight to the left post to get his leg on Anthony Markanich’s attempt on the rebound.
St. Louis also had an opportunity in the 21st minute when Rasmus Alm tried to feed Klauss on the left side, but Los Angeles defender Jesus Murillo got his leg on it to direct it away.
Los Angeles winger Cristian Olivera’s attempt from outside the box rolled wide right in the 37th minute and four minutes later the Uruguayan came within inches on a shot from distance that skimmed over the crossbar.
Markanich appeared to open the scoring for St. Louis in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time when, off a corner, he got his foot on the ball to send it past Lloris. But the goal was overturned after video review confirmed a handball by Markanich.
Bouanga gave Los Angeles a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute. Mateusz Bogusz lobbed a long pass up to Bouanga, who caught up with it before burying it from the top of the box into the right side.
St. Louis went down to 10 men in the 75th minute when Markanich was booked for his second yellow card of the match.
Tim Parker had one of the better chances of the second half for St. Louis in the 86th minute but his header went just wide of the left post.
Bouanga made it 2-0 on a breakaway in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time.
–Field Level Media