MLS: Ousseni Bouda powers overachievers San Jose Earthquakes to shock LAFC

San Jose Earthquakes are making a loud statement early in the Major League Soccer season and Ousseni Bouda was magnificent in a surprise 4-1 victory over MLS title contenders Los Angeles FC on Sunday evening.

Timo Werner finds Ousseni Bouda for the opening strike! 💪 pic.twitter.com/uB7RbaqfJI

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 20, 2026

Receiving a low pass from former Chelsea FC and Germany national team forward Timo Werner, the Burkinabe international put his finish into the roof of the net in the 54th minute to begin LAFC’s downfall.

Werner doubled the lead two minutes later before an own goal confirmed three conceded goals in five minutes for the team led by stars Denis Bouanga and Son-Heung Min. It was a commanding performance from a club that is known more for futility in recent years than success.

Bouda doubled his tally late on to dimiss any hopes of a comeback from the hosts at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

Bouda brace! ✌️

San Jose lead 4-1 at LAFC. pic.twitter.com/EpZmpCBsE0

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 20, 2026

The visitors took advantage of a busy stretch for LAFC, who advanced to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup earlier in the week. Sunday’s match marked the end of a stretch that included five matches in fifteen days.

But none of that is of San Jose’s concern. The club from California’s San Francisco Bay Area are tied atop the Western Conference with 21 points from 8 matches, leaving them level with Vancouver Whitecaps and five points clear of LAFC.

American coaching legend Bruce Arena continues to remake the club since his arrival during the 2024 season. The United States national team’s coach at the 2002 World Cup has brought out the best in Bouda, who now has four goals to already exceed his career-best mark since turning professional in 2022.

🔝 stays ours. see you back at home wednesday 👀 pic.twitter.com/vxjLCZHcyW

— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) April 20, 2026

From Ouaga to MLS

The 25-year-old Ouagadougou native is a graduate of Ghana’s Right to Dream Academy, from where he moved to the USA at the age of 15 and attended Stanford University.

He stayed in California to begin his professional career with San Jose after being drafted as the eighth overall pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, where the league’s clubs select players who come out of the university system as well as other youth players.

Bouda’s development has had its ups and downs in the American top flight but he has done well to improve into a regular member of the Earthquakes XI. He has also become a member of the Burkina Faso national team, debuting during 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying and making his AFCON debut at the 2025 edition in Morocco.