The Japan Times - LAFC's Bouanga makes MLS history with hat-trick in Salt Lake win

The Gabon international's second hat-trick in the three matches took him to 22 goals this campaign, the first MLS player to score at least 20 goals in three consecutive seasons.

Bouanga is now tied at the top of the league scoring chart with Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi, one ahead of Nashville's Sam Surridge.

He also set an LAFC record with his fourth regular season hat-trick -- one more than club legend Carlos Vela, who was honored by the club at BMO Stadium on Sunday.

South Korea star Son Heung-min also scored for LAFC, who went into the match assured of an MLS Cup playoff berth after St. Louis City's 3-1 win at San Jose on Saturday night.

Son, the former Tottenham captain who signed with LAFC in August for a reported MLS record $26 million, scored his first MLS hat-trick last week against Real Salt Lake, who have lost five of their last six matches.

Bouanga and Son have meshed quickly, and it was Son's pass that set up Bouanga's first goal in first-half stoppage time, pulling LAFC level after Brayan Vera's 14th-minute strike for Real Salt Lake.

Two minutes later Son rattled a shot in off the post to make it 2-1 at half-time.

Bouanga completed his hat-trick with goals in the 73rd and 87th minutes.

In Sunday's other game, Austin FC continued their playoff push with a 2-1 home win over Seattle that kept the Sounders' bid for a post-season berth on hold.

Myrto Uzuni scored the winner deep into injury time, firing home from close range off a ball headed across the goalmouth by CJ Fodrey.

Seattle missed a chance to clinch and Austin are now one point behind the fifth-placed Sounders in the West standings with four matches remaining.

S.Yamada--JT