Denis Bouanga shocks Club America, puts LAFC in Club World Cup | OneFootball

Denis Bouanga has scored 166 competitive goals across all competitions in his lengthy senior club career, accrding to Transfermarkt.

Never again will he score another one like his tally on Saturday night, which just netted his club at least $9.55 million.

Bouanga's heavily deflected tally in the 115th minute of extra time lifted LAFC to a 2-1 victory over Club Ameria in a highly anticipated playoff for the last berth in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Bouanga's decisive tally followed Igor Jesus' 88th-minute leveler. And it was ultimately justice for the Black-and-Gold, who were the better side over 120 minutes at BMO Stadium, LAFC's home ground, but one that felt like a truly neutral environment thanks to thousands of Club America fans present.

The Mexican giants had taken the lead through former LAFC attacker Brian Rodriguez's 64th-minute penalty but weren't as threatening from open play while managing several injury absences in attack.

What it means

With the victory, LAFC will take the final spot in Group D that had previously been awarded to Club Leon of Liga MX, and will play group fixtures against Chelsea on June 16, ES Tunis on June 20 and Flamengo on June 24.

Presumably LAFC will have to reschedule at least two MLS fixtures, home to Toroto on June 13 and at Real Salt Lake on June 25.

Leon defeated LAFC in the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup final but was dumped from the competition by FIFA earlier this spring because they share ownership groups with another tournament entrant, 2024 Concacaf champions CF Pachuca.

FIFA contrived the one-match playoff as a solution, with LAFC given the right to compete as the runners-up to Leon in 2023, and Club America given the right as the highest-ranked Concacaf side in FIFA"s club world rankings.

All entrants from Concacaf wll get a minimum of $9.55 million or their tournament appearances, and could win nearly $100 million in total prize money if they pull off a highly unlikely Cinderella run an win the whole tournament.

But there are cash incentives each step of the way in the tournament, and bringing in a total of around $20 million into club coffers is not out of the realm of possibility.

Coming full circle

Bouanga was one of only five players involved Saturday for LAFC who also played during their 1-0 defeat in Leg 2 of the 2023 Concacaf Champions League final to Leon.

Two-plus years later, his winner Saturday resulted from a combination in the penalty area with Olivier Giroud, who was exceptional coming off the bench.

While Giroud only has two goals in league play since his arrival last summer, he has made an impact in every high-stakes game he has played for the Black-and-Gold. His assist Saturday follows one goal each in LAFC's 2024 U.S. Open Cup final victory and 2024 Leagues Cup defeat.

Giroud's presence in the box also appeared to play a role in Igor Jesus being able to evade his marker to score his first, very important goal for the club.