LAFC booked their ticket to the Western Conference semifinals with a narrow win over Vancouver in match three of the MLS Cup Playoffs opening round.

Scorers: Bogusz 62′

After a thumping in match two, LAFC needed to come out of the gates quick, but neither side truly grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck in the opening 45 minutes.

It took until after the half-time break for LAFC to take control of the possession and put their foot on the accelerator to create a flurry of chances.

Just past the hour mark they finally broke the deadlock when Mateusz Bogusz pounced on a loose ball and slid home a superb finish into the bottom corner to give the hosts the lead.

While Vancouver pushed to level the scoreline, the visitors from north of the border struggled to find the final ball in front of goal.

LAFC’s win sets up a second round showdown with Seattle, a team they have dominated in the head-to-head record as of late.

© Kelvin Kuo-Imagn Images