Bouanga's late goal helps LAFC earn draw in FIFA Club World Cup finale

ORLANDO -- Despite a relentless attack from Flamengo, LAFC managed to work a 1-1 draw in their final group stage match at the FIFA Club World Cup on Tuesday evening at Camping World Stadium. The Black and Gold finished their tournament run 0-1-2, managing to get on the board at last late in their final contest.

It was none other than Denis Bouanga who came through to temporarily put Los Angeles in front 1-0 as he broke away and drilled the 84th-minute score through the legs of Flamengo goalkeeper Agustin Rossi. 

The 30-year-old turned the momentum completely around after Flamengo had seemingly come within inches of scoring a multitude of times throughout the contest. The Brazilian side finished with 19 total shots and held possession over 65% of the time, making their aggressiveness felt for the full 90 minutes.

However, just two minutes after the breakthrough score from Bouanga, Wallace Yan found the equalizer on the other end of the pitch to create a 1-1 game. 

In a devastating moment for Los Angeles, Yan worked his way nicely through traffic to free himself for the open shot against Hugo Lloris, drilling it into the left side of the net.

While Lloris finally gave in to the never-ending Flamengo attack during the late stages, he put forth a valiant effort during the contest to keep his squad in the contest. The Frenchman made a pair of saves in the contest, including a clutch diving deflection in the 57th minute to turn away a strike from Everton.

Flamengo danced around the net all night long, clanging numerous tries off the post and crossbar as their fans looked on in distress. Giorgian de Arrascaeta nearly put his squad on the board in the 70th minute as he fired one from the top of the box that boomed off the crossbar and caromed away.

LAFC produced just five shots in the contest, but still nearly managed to find the net in the first half as Marlon's 37th-minute header was waved away for offsides. Earlier on in the 10th, Mark Delgado nearly struck as his shot from beyond the box hooked right and bounced off the post.

While Los Angeles will head home after failing to advance to the knockout rounds, perhaps they can take the gritty performance as momentum heading back into MLS play. They will host Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Sunday at BMO Stadium, looking to extend their current unbeaten streak of nine games.

Vancouver will present a challenge for them, currently holding first place in the Western Conference with a record of 10-5-2. The two sides battled into a 2-2 draw in their first matchup of the season on May 11.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. PT.