With playoffs already clinched, a top four finish guaranteed, and having lost the chance at finishing atop the West with their latest loss, LAFC came into Colorado looking to finish the season strong with slight hopes of finishing in second place, but mostly just hoping to get the result and get into playoffs healthy. Always a difficult trip for them, this time was no different as the Rapids, who were fighting for a chance to see the postseason, weren’t going to go down easy.
Back and forth battle ⚔️#COLvLAFC pic.twitter.com/yTU1f5foav
— LAFC (@LAFC) October 19, 2025
It was a tale of two halves for LAFC, with them being the aggressors in the first half. They were shutdown defensively, allowing just one shot from Colorado, despite the home side keeping slightly more possession. They were also in full on attack mode, racking up 13 shots, finding the target seven times, and looked to be right back in top form with the return of Denis Bouanga and Sonny. Which made it no surprise that the team was finally able to break through the Rapids defense late in the first half, with Son scoring the opening goal and setting a record for the club in the process. In the 42nd minute Denis Bouanga was attacking the defense and saw his new bestie going on the run. He put in a great pass that set Son free and after creating some space around the two defenders that had dared tried to stop him, he slammed it home for the goal and lead before halftime.
Son strikes first 🚀
No stopping that from Son Heung-Min https://t.co/MxyiKWDs4o pic.twitter.com/CunJJgIEYG
— LAFC (@LAFC) October 19, 2025
The goal made it nine scores in nine matches for the newest Los Angeles superstar, and it also helped the club set yet another record. The goal made it 500 total goals for LAFC, becoming the fastest club to the milestone in just 260 games, breaking the former record held by DC United, by 35.
Fastest to 5⃣0⃣0⃣
With tonight’s first goal, we became the fastest team in MLS history to reach 500 all-time regular-season goals, doing so in just 260 matches, beating the previous record by 35 matches. pic.twitter.com/vLCDtECSP6
— LAFC (@LAFC) October 19, 2025
In order to finish in second place LAFC needed to win, and needed San Diego FC to either draw or lose their final match. Unfortunately, San Diego had a pretty comfortable lead in their match and it was almost like LA found this out during halftime, realizing that they would finish either third or fourth, decided to just play out the match not to lose and it showed. Rapids came out of the second half seeing their playoff hopes slip away and applied the pressure. In the 61st minute they took advantage of a rare, and pretty egregious error from LAFC keeper Hugo Lloris. Playing out the back, the Frenchman lazily kicked the ball right into the pressing Paxten Aaronson, who didn’t even really need to touch the ball as much as let it deflect right off his foot and into the back of the net for the equalizer.
🚨 First Rapids goal for Paxten Aaronson! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/d1PjWnejuD
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 19, 2025
With hope renewed, it was Colorado who were the aggressors in the second half as they began to take a lot more chances, finishing the half with 14 shots, and finding the target three times, but they made those efforts count. LAFC on the other hand, clearly took their foot off the gas, finishing the half with four shots and just one on target, but it was very much an important one. It looked like this match was set to end in a 1-1 draw, but Rapids had a little more drama in store. In the 87th minute Rapids sent in a perfectly weighted ball into the box as they continued to push for the win, and it was Darren Yapi who leaped across the defense and headed the effort home beautifully, sending it past Lloris for the goal and what many had assumed, was the late winner for the home side.
Darren Yapi scores to keep the @ColoradoRapids Audi MLS Cup Playoffs hopes alive! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ugU7Gt0iFb
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 19, 2025
Thankfully, for as bad as they can look at times, the one thing about LAFC is they never give up. They keep pushing until the final whistle and this time was no different. Just moments after conceding, they were on the attack and in the 90th minute they earned their point. Andy Moran and Jeremey Ebobisse were playing a little one-two in the box and the latter sent a shot that hit the post as it narrowly missed, however, Moran was right there waiting and on the second effort, he put it past the keeper for his first goal in an LAFC shirt, giving the club the equalizer late, and the eventual point to take back to Los Angeles.
Andy’s first earns us a point 👊 pic.twitter.com/k0vtQ9A8si
— LAFC (@LAFC) October 19, 2025
The dramatic finish ended in a draw, sealing third place for LAFC and eliminating Colorado from playoff contention. While the draw on the road definitely feels like a disappointment considering the opponent, and following the tough loss at home, the team have to focus and prepare for the playoffs ahead. The slate is wiped clean and all it takes is getting hot, putting in your best performances now, and they will have a chance to once again lift the MLS Cup. First, they need to get ready for what will be a very tough opening round matchup against Austin FC. The best-of-3 series is set to begin October 29th, with Matches 1 and 3 at BMO Stadium, though here’s hoping the team won’t need a third match to advance.
Thoughts on the Decision Day draw and regular season? Leave a comment below!