Denis Bouanga scored in the 73rd minute to give LAFC a 2-1 victory over FC Cincinnati on Saturday night, securing his club a spot in the postseason.

Bouanga scored his 18th goal this season for LAFC (15-8-7), which became the only team in league history to score at least 50 points in postseason appearances in three consecutive seasons. Bouanga is second in the league behind DC United’s Christian Benteke, who has 21. Olivier Giroud scored his first assist in his sixth career appearance.

LAFC took a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute and went into halftime thanks to 18-year-old rookie midfielder David Martínez’s third goal of the season. Lewis O’Brien picked up his first assist of the season and the second of his career and Kei Kamara picked up his fourth assist of the season. O’Brien made his fifth appearance of the season and the 22nd of his two-year career – all starts.

Rookie Luca Orellano received a pass from Luciano Acosta and scored the equalizer for Cincinnati (17-9-5) in the 61st minute. It was the 10th goal of the season for Orellano and the 19th assist for Acosta, matching his career high in 2022.

Hugo Lloris, who along with FC Cincinnati’s Patrick Schulte leads the league with 12 goals conceded this season, finished the season with five saves for LAFC.

Roman Celentano saved four shots for Cincinnati. Celentano made three saves in the first half and Lloris was not tested.

LAFC returns home to play St. Louis City on Wednesday. Cincinnati travels to play New York City FC on Wednesday.