It wasn’t supposed to end like this. Sure, when you get to single-elimination knockouts anything can happen, but when LAFC equalized late in the second half of their Western Conference semifinal, it seemed almost destined that the black & gold would do just enough to get themselves into the Western Conference Finals. What nobody expected, was that we would see one of the most potent attacks over the last two months of the season, unable to convert their penalties when they needed it most.
Final. pic.twitter.com/DPETVO7RPX
— LAFC (@LAFC) November 23, 2025
The first half went about as bad as any we had seen from LAFC this season. Despite starting the match with their entire attacking power available, they couldn’t get it going early. Vancouver kept 66% of possession in that first half and while it isn’t abnormal for Los Angeles to give up the possession, it is abnormal for them to feel completely dominated for an entire half. Vancouver had seven shots with five on target while LAFC couldn’t muster a single shot, let alone a shot on target, throughout the first half. That type of play isn’t conducive to winning, and while it took most of the half, Vancouver made the most of it by getting on the scoreboard first. In the 39th minute it was Emmanuel Sabbi who got on the end of a phenomenal ball from the goalkeeper. A long kick that went over the entire LAFC defense found Sabbi with room to run and after catching up to the ball, Sabbi needed just one clever touch to get it up and over Hugo Lloris for the goal and the lead.
WHAT A BALL! 👀
WHAT A RUN! 🌬️
WHAT A CHIP! 😱Filthy pass from Yohei Takaoka to Emmanuel Sabbi to open the scoring for the @WhitecapsFC // Audi MLS Cup Playoffs pic.twitter.com/VlWEzLK0Ii
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 23, 2025
Rarely do you see the goalkeeper assist, but even more rarely have you seen LAFC give up multiple goals with quick succession. After taking the lead late in the first half, Vancouver looked to put things away quickly as they immediately went on hunt for a second. With one of the final moves of the first half the Whitecaps made the best of a corner kick. Perhaps still riding his form from International break, Sebastian Berhalter put a solid ball into the box from the corner flag, where it was met by Thomas Müller’s header. The initial shot was saved by Lloris, but Mathias Laborda was there to put away the rebound to double Whitecaps’ lead going into the halftime break.
Vancouver scores again! 😤
Mathias Laborda strikes off the Thomas Müller rebound to put @WhitecapsFC ahead 2-0. // Audi MLS Cup Playoffs pic.twitter.com/E2t0YZLpj1
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 23, 2025
Apparently in the second half, LAFC got the memo that this was a single elimination match. After putting together a collective nothing on offense in the first half, they came out firing in the second half. The team finished the half with more possession, got off 14 shots, seven on target and most importantly, looked like they were about to complete one of the biggest comebacks in club history.
It started with Son Heung-Min who, in the 60th minute, pulled one back for LAFC. A great ball into the box from Mark Delgado lead to an incredible little flick header to the back post where Son was waiting and from point blank range, had his first shot saved. His second effort, blocked by a defender, his third effort, also blocked, BUT the fourth effort was the charm as his relentlessness paid off with the goal, cutting the deficit in half.
Son Heung-Min is there to pull one back 🙌 https://t.co/WeUzHAVILj pic.twitter.com/pnGBmiw89y
— LAFC (@LAFC) November 23, 2025
In true Hollywood drama fashion, it wasn’t until the last kick of the match, one last chance for LAFC to make some magic happen, where they did just that. With a free kick in dangerous territory it was once again Son who stepped up with all the pressure on him. He was always going for goal, and his strike was pure and true. The ball curled over the wall and was settled right on the top shelf, upper 90, away from where anyone could save it. The equalizer was his, and in the moment, it felt like LAFC would run away with the win in extra time.
TOP. SHELF. 🎯
SONNY BRINGS US LEVEL IN THE FINAL MINUTES https://t.co/kXTRRMHPzh pic.twitter.com/ZkPiASykRW
— LAFC (@LAFC) November 23, 2025
Vancouver were headed to extra time with all the momentum gone, their defender and former LAFC player Tristan Blackmon having been shown a red card late, and with Son and Bouanga smelling blood in the water. Unfortunately for LA, they just couldn’t put it together in extra time. Not even when in the second half of ET Whitecaps suffered an injury that saw them having to play with 9 players for a good chunk of time, having already used all their substitutions. It couldn’t have been more stacked in favor of the black and gold, but sadly, this one was headed to Penalty Kicks. That’s where it all fell apart.
After doing everything he could and more to secure the draw and push the match to extra time, it was Son who stepped up first, and failed to convert his attempt. A few shots later it was midfielder Mark Delgado who also failed to convert. While Lloris did have one big save, it wasn’t enough as Vancouver advanced with the win on PKs. It was a gutting end to what was a rollercoaster season. Soccer can be cruel, and for LAFC, it couldn’t have been written any more cruel than what we saw.
Thoughts on the loss? Leave a comment below!