Playoffs may have been clinched, but there was still work to do for LAFC coming into their last home match of the regular season. The team still have a chance to get themselves back into a top four spot, and holding home field advantage for the opening series of the MLS Playoffs. First and foremost, they have to win. A draw, while mathematically keeps them in it, will almost surely have them needing to perform on the road throughout the postseason. While BMO isn’t the fortress it was in years past, it is still where LAFC play their best football and come away with the most wins, so this is still worth fighting hard for.
Today’s XI 💪
#LAFC | @essentiawater https://t.co/ORxM2DuOSi
— LAFC (@LAFC) November 2, 2026
The big story coming into tonight was the history on the line. LAFC have not only won the last four meetings over Minnesota, but have done so with clean sheets. No team in MLS history has ever beaten a team five times in a row with five shutouts, but LAFC had a chance to do just that. The early stages of the match were slow. Not necessarily a chess match, but a struggle for Los Angeles to get anything going. That sluggish start not only came back to bite them, but it also dashed any chances at history as Minnesota took the early lead with one of their first efforts of the night.
In the 29th minute a Minnesota throw-in led to a ball that bounced around before landing at the feet of Joaquín Pereyra, who wasted no time in taking the shot and sneaking it past defenders and the goalkeeper for the early lead.
Joaquín Pereyra opens up the scoring for @mnufc in LA. 💥 https://t.co/WjjEZOxnR3
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 2, 2026
Halloween may be over, but the nightmare continued for LAFC after conceding the first goal, it wasn’t long before the visitors were off celebrating again. In the 34th minute Minnesota put together some beautiful passing that ended with a headed pass in the box that found Kelvin Yeboah who absolutely smashed the ball into the back of the net to double the lead in the middle of the first half.
This was beautiful from @MNUFC 👏
Cherrion Valerius scores on the assist from Kelvin Yeboah to make it 2-0. https://t.co/CEyHbtoTfF
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 2, 2026
It was a disastrous first half for LAFC, conceding goals and looking lethargic on the night. The worst part is, they led in every statistical category at the half, except the one that matters most, the scoreboard. They had more shots (6), more shots on target (3), more touches in the opponent’s box (7), but it was two excellent build-ups that proved the difference in this one at the break.
You could almost taste the desperation in the air for LAFC, which was a bit odd for a team that had secured their spot in the playoffs, but it also shows just how much expectation surrounds this team. Not to mention the entire season has been filled with slow performances, sluggish stretches, and dropped points so the last things anyone wants to see just weeks from the playoffs starting, is the team falling back into bad form.
The score remained the same through 60 minutes, though a mistake from Hugo Lloris nearly made it three. Minnesota weren’t fully pressing and putting their foots completely on neck, but they were doing enough to keep the home side from gaining any sort of rhythm. Minnesota drove the dagger through the heart of Los Angeles in the 81st minute.
Pereyra got on the end of a pass that found him in stride as he approached the box, but instead of going forward he took a shot from outside and it skipped in front of Hugo Lloris, getting past him for the third goal of the night, a brace for the Argentine striker.
Joaquín Pereyra from way downtown! 💫
He bags the brace to give @MNUFC a 3-0 lead at LAFC. https://t.co/8VdqAsHFra
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 2, 2026
Minnesota weren’t able to keep the clean sheet though, as LAFC were able to get something in the final moments of the match. New man Sergio Vasquez opened his account in black & gold in style as he scored on a bicycle kick. With space in the box he decided to try the audacious and struck it pure, finding the back of the net and cutting the deficit to two goals with just minutes left to play.
🚨 BICYCLE KICK ALERT 🚨
Sergio Vásquez brought out the bike for @LAFC. 🚲🇪🇨 https://t.co/h7AMr3spMf
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 2, 2026
LAFC are limping across the regular season finish line, losing big in their home finale. The loss ends any hope of getting home field advantage for the opening round and with how things stand on points, LAFC are locked into sixth place and will be taking on whoever finishes in the third spot in the West. First, they look to finish the regular season strong as they travel to take on Seattle Sounders to wrap up the 2026 MLS regular season.
Thoughts on the loss? Let us know in the comments below!