LAFC Hosts Red Bull New York on Korean Heritage Night at BMO Stadium
LAFC returns to BMO Stadium on Wednesday, September 9, at 7:30 p.m. PT to face Red Bull New York in a matchup highlighting the league’s most experienced side against its youngest roster. The Black & Gold will celebrate the Korean community of Los Angeles with prematch activities, Korean-inspired menu items, and special guests as part of Korean Heritage Night.
Current Form and Standings
LAFC (10W-7L-7D) sits third in the Western Conference following two hard-fought road draws against D.C. United and Real Salt Lake. Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-Min combined for both goals in Saturday’s 2-2 draw in Utah, with each player assisting the other.
Red Bull New York (7W-10L-6D) occupies 10th in the Eastern Conference after a scoreless draw against an injury-depleted Seattle Sounders side. Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath delivered a standout performance, recording six saves — many acrobatic and at point-blank range — to secure his second clean sheet of the MLS regular season. The former U.S. Men’s National Team starter has been a bright spot for a struggling side.
Wednesday’s contest pits MLS’s most experienced team against its youngest. RBNY’s starting XI in Seattle posted an average age of just 22 years, 24 days — the youngest in league history.
LAFC Form Check
Since the FIFA World Cup break, LAFC has lost only twice in 12 matches across all competitions, both by 1-0 margins — one on a stoppage-time penalty and the other on a deflected own goal. The club has outscored opponents 17-9 in that span. However, injuries have limited personnel options recently, resulting in a negative-1 goal differential over nine matches since August 1 (seven scored, eight conceded).
Head coach Marc Dos Santos emphasized the need to convert draws into victories after the Utah result:
“Our focus is to get back to [earning] the full three points,” head coach Marc Dos Santos said after the draw in Utah. “We’re tying way too many games. Now we have to look for the three points at home against New York … Our next game is the most important one on Wednesday.”
Bouanga and Son Form Potent Partnership
Bouanga’s goal and assist against Real Salt Lake brought his 2026 MLS tally to 20 goal contributions (12 goals, 8 assists), placing him among just seven players to reach that mark this season.
20+ Goal Contributions in 2026 (through Matchday 24)
- Lionel Messi (MIA) — 30 (18g/12a)
- Evander (CIN) — 24 (13/11)
- Petar Musa (DAL) — 22 (18/4)
- Denis Bouanga (LAFC) — 20 (12/8)
- Nico Fernández-Mercau (NYCFC) — 20 (14/6)
- Luis Suárez (MIA) — 20 (12/8)
- Pep Biel (CLT) — 20 (11/9)
Bouanga’s next goal will tie Carlos Vela’s club record of 78 MLS regular-season goals for LAFC (2018–2023). Bouanga already holds the club’s all-competition scoring record with 120 total goals.
Son Heung-Min netted his fifth MLS regular-season goal over the weekend and added his 11th assist, tying for second in the league behind Messi’s 12. Bouanga and Son rank 10th and 15th in MLS, respectively, in key passes (passes leading directly to a teammate’s shot on goal).
Young Bulls Roster Built on Academy Talent
Coached by former MLS and USMNT standout Michael Bradley — son of LAFC’s inaugural head coach Bob Bradley — Red Bull New York fields the league’s youngest roster. The attack is spearheaded by 18-year-old striker Julian Hall and fellow academy products Matthew Dos Santos (18) and Adri Mehmeti (17).
Hall leads the team with nine goals and five assists. Southern California native Jorge Ruvalcaba ranks second with seven goals. Emil Forsberg and Cade Cowell share the team lead with seven assists each.
Since the World Cup, RBNY has posted a 1W-5L-2D record and did not compete in Leagues Cup. Last week, Honduran international David Ruíz joined on loan from Inter Miami CF and debuted as a second-half substitute in Seattle alongside defender Devin Padelford, who arrived on loan from Minnesota United FC. Midfielder Ronald Donkor, a near-ever-present starter with 22 starts in 23 matches, will miss Wednesday’s match due to yellow card accumulation.
Goalkeeper John McCarthy returns to BMO Stadium, where he achieved cult hero status and won 2022 MLS Cup Final MVP after entering in extra time to help LAFC secure the championship on penalties.
Keys to the Match
LAFC Will Win If
Its attacking shape generates transition chances as it did against Real Salt Lake. With injuries forcing a back-three formation in Utah, LAFC created numerous counterattacking opportunities.
“The advantage that we have when we play with a back three is that we have the three forwards more narrow and closer to each other,” Dos Santos explained. But there’s a cost: “The downfall of that is that we also ask our midfielders to cover a lot of ground.”
If LAFC manages that balance and allows Son and Bouanga to stay close and combine near the opposing goal, three points at home are within reach.
RBNY Can Win If
Horvath replicates his Seattle heroics. Only three MLS goalkeepers have faced more shots on target than the 6-foot-4 former USMNT starter, who plays behind the league’s most inexperienced defense. When Horvath stands tall, RBNY’s young attackers — Hall, Ruvalcaba, or others — must capitalize at the other end against Hugo Lloris.
That remains a tall order at BMO Stadium. Lloris is enjoying his best MLS campaign since joining LAFC in 2024. The French legend is tied for the league lead in clean sheets (11) and ranks second in save percentage (76.3%), trailing only Nashville’s Brian Schwake.