Mateusz Bogusz scores hat trick in LAFC’s victory over Rapids

The 22-year-old Polish winger’s hat-trick on Saturday gave him nine straight league games with goal contributions, and, as it happens, propelled LAFC to its ninth straight MLS result.

LOS ANGELES — Mateusz Bogusz is delivering at an MVP level.

The 22-year-old Polish winger’s hat-trick on Saturday, the first of his career, gave him nine straight league games with goal contributions, and, as it happens, propelled the Los Angeles Football Club to nine straight unbeaten in MLS with a 3-0 domination of the Colorado Rapids.

“Form is real,” said LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo, whose squad has taken 25 of their last 27 potential points. “Some players are in-form. Some are not. More important: The team is in-form and that is what we tend to look at as coaches, because when the team is in-form individuals will always profit. It allows individuals to be in-form.”

Bogusz’s hot stretch tied him with the reigning Landon Donovan MLS MVP Luciano Acosta, who contributed in nine straight games for FC Cincinnati in the spring. It also tied Bogusz for the stop spot among LAFC players in that category, matching Carlos Vela during the Mexican’s MVP season of 2019.

Coming off a pair of goals and an assist last weekend, Bogusz’s game-winner in the 20th minute pushed him to a career high 10 goals in 2024. He added No. 11 near the hour mark and pushed it to 12 in the 72nd minute.

“I was close already last game to score a hat-trick, so I had in my mind if I score two goals to keep going,” Bogusz said. “Now is the time.

“I hope it’s not the last one.”

Bogusz exited the contest shortly thereafter to a standing ovation from an announced crowd of 22,019 at BMO Stadium, where LAFC remains unbeaten through 13 matches in all competitions.

As has been the case since LAFC (12-4-4, 40 points) rebounded from early-season struggles to reach the top spot in the Western Conference following last weekend’s rout of San Jose, the connection between Bogusz and French winger Denis Bouanga has been too much for opponents to handle.

Against the Rapids (9-8-4, 31 points), which entered the match 4th in the conference after three consecutive wins, Bogusz roofed his first goal off a sharp cross along the six-yard box by Bouanga. For Bouanga, last year’s MLS Golden Boot winner, the play marked his ninth assist, five of which have set up Bogusz.

It wasn’t an assist, but a blocked Bouanga shot in the 58th minute fell to the versatile Bogusz and he made the most of it for his second, beating Colorado goalkeeper Zack Steffen through traffic with his left foot.

Playing on the inside or outside, as a striker or underneath as a false nine, or in the midfield, Bogusz has operated as a Swiss-army knife this year. Joining LAFC in March of 2023, Bogusz came to MLS from Spain’s second division where he played for a hapless UD Ibiza side that tended to defend first. This is not how LAFC goes about its business, and the more Bogusz familiarized himself with the league the better he’s been.

“I know I can score from any position,” Bogusz said. “It’s not just scoring from outside the 18. I can score as well inside the box. It’s just following the ball, always being ready.”

LAFC defender Sergi Palencia first crossed paths with Bogusz in Spain, matching up against the attacker while he played on the left wing for Ibiza. When Bogusz signed with LAFC, Palencia believed they added a talented and cool character.

“He’s one of the guys that really enjoys to play football,” Palencia said. “We can see that. He understands the game, that’s why he can play every position on the field.”

Players aren’t allowed to earn assists on the goals they score, but Bogusz probably deserved one on his third finish.

After Rapids forward Kévin Cabral received a second yellow card, reducing the visitors to 10 men for the last half hour, Bogusz fed Timothy Tillman in the attacking third and darted directly toward the box. Tillman progressed the play to Kei Kamara, whose soft touch freed Bogusz for a right-footed blast that rendered Steffen helpless.

“It shows that Mati is relishing the moment and really figuring out where goals are scored,” Cherundolo said. “I think when we first started using Mati as an attacker he found himself in positions outside the box. Now he’s finding himself in the box more risking injury running full speed into the back of the net. That’s what goal scorers do.”

The outcome sets up a showdown on July 4th at the Rose Bowl between the top two teams in the conference. Like LAFC, the L.A. Galaxy have 40 points but technically sit second in the conference because they have one less win than their rival.

“I already said in the dressing room: let’s forget what was today and just focus on Thursday,” Bogusz said. “It’s a very big game. We need to go there, show up and win this game. It’s very important. If we can win this game we’re going to be in an amazing position for the rest of the season. It’s a derby, so the game is always different. It’s going to be hard, but we’ll be ready.”