In search of taking possession of the top of the Western Conference, LAFC received the visit of the San José Earthquakes, at BMO Stadium, with the need to win with at least two goals difference and hope that in Texas, the The LA Galaxy fell to the Houston Dynamo.
Both situations occurred so that LAFC dramatically finished the regular season as first in the Western Conference with 64 points, like the Galacticos, but the goal difference favored them with +20, while the LA Galaxy was left with + 19.
LAFC thus ensures playing at home during its time in the playoffs. However, if they reach the final against Inter Miami (74 points) or the Columbus Crew (66 points), they will play as a visitor in the MLS Cup.
With goals from Denis Bouanga, Eduard Atuesta and Marlon Santos, LAFC defeated the Earthquakes 3-1, who had taken the lead with a goal from Jackson Yueill.
The LAFC fans remained expectant even after the end of the match in Los Angeles, awaiting the result in Houston, which scored a last-gasp goal for the Texans to defeat the LA Galaxy 2-1.
The Colombian Atuesta was the figure of the match despite having entered the field after 80 minutes of play. The midfielder also had a hand in the third goal that gave them the lead in the West.
In a mistake by the Los Angeles defense when trying to leave their area, the ball was left in the possession of Paul Marie who quickly sent a filtered pass to Yueill, so that he could finish alone against a defeated Hugo Lloris. It was 1-0 in favor of the visitor after nine minutes.
The tie had to wait until 65 minutes into the second half, when Bouanga took advantage of a bad rebound from the visiting defense so that the ball was outlined for him and with a right foot he equalized things. It was 1-1.
With just one minute on the field, Atuesta made a triangulation with Kei Kamara and with a powerful cross shot he turned the score around. It was 2-1 in favor of LAFC after 75 minutes of play.
The third of the night came through a free kick center that Atuesta took and Santos headed in for the 3-1 score that made the stadium explode with emotion.
The LA Galaxy could not hold on to the tie they had achieved through the maximum penalty taken by Gabriel Pec at 90+6 of added time. The score by former Galactico Daniel Steres came through a header at 90+11.
