Recap | LAFC 2-2 Galaxy | 2026 MLS Season

LAFC officially clinched a berth in the 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs thanks to a 2-2 draw with the LA Galaxy on Sunday night at BMO Stadium. Denis Bouanga and Leo Walta scored nine minutes apart in the second half to help the home side overcome a 2-0 deficit and claim a point that extends its unbeaten streak to four games.

With the draw, LAFC remains in sixth place in the Western Conference standings with a 12-9-11 record for 47 points. With just two games remaining in the regular season, the club is now one point behind Houston and San Jose for fourth place in the Western Conference.

LAFC appeared to take the lead in the 28th minute when Son Heung-Min knocked home the rebound of a Denis Bouanga shot that had hit the crossbar. However, after a lengthy video review, Bouanga was deemed to be offside and the goal was ruled out, keeping the game scoreless.

Less than a minute after Son’s goal was nullified, it was the Galaxy that took the lead. Robert Taylor won the ball on the right wing near midfield and ran at the LAFC defense before crossing for Joseph Paintsil, whose first-time finish gave the Galaxy a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute.

The visitors doubled their lead early in the second half when Paintsil scored his second of the game, reacting quickest to the rebound of an Erik Thommy shot, making the score 2-0 in the 51st minute.

LAFC began its comeback just two minutes later when Bouanga finished the rebound of an Armindo Sieb shot for his 18th goal of the season, making the score 2-1 in the 53rd minute.

It was 2-2 nine minutes later when Leo Walta scored his second goal in as many games for LAFC. Son’s left-wing cross was deflected by one Galaxy defender and then misplayed inside the area by another, allowing Walta to redirect his shot underneath Galaxy goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski and tie the game at 2-2 in the 62nd minute.

LAFC continued to dominate play after Walta’s goal, outshooting the Galaxy 8-0 over the final 28 minutes plus stoppage time, and appeared to have scored a winner with the final kick of the game when Bouanga swept an overhead kick by Tyler Boyd into the net from 10 yards out. However, Aaron Long was deemed to be offside in the buildup to the goal, meaning that the match would finish 2-2. 

The Black & Gold will be back in action on Sunday, November 1, when the club hosts Minnesota United at BMO Stadium in its final home game of the regular season. That game kicks off at 5:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on Apple TV, as well as Coupang Play and SPOTV for fans in Korea. Local radio coverage will be available on 710 AM ESPN, the ESPN LA app, KYPA 1230 AM (Korean), and 980 AM La Mera Mera (Spanish).

NOTES:

• With the draw, LAFC is now 12W-9L-11D for 47 points this season and 18-10-15 in all competitions.

• Tonight’s game was the club’s penultimate home game of the season. LAFC is 9W-3L-4D at home in the league and 13-3-7 at home in all competitions.

• If LAFC can win its final home game on November 1, the club will have reached 10 home wins in a season for the fifth consecutive year and the sixth time in the nine years that the club has played in MLS.

• LAFC wins the season series with the Galaxy, going 1-0-1 against its rival. The all-time series between the clubs is now level at 10-10-8 from 28 meetings.

• LAFC interim head coach Xavi Tamarit remains unbeaten in his time in charge, collecting a 1-0-3 record.

• Tonight’s game was just the second time this season that LAFC had taken a point from a game that it trailed by multiple goals. On May 2, LAFC trailed San Diego FC 2-0 late in the second half before tallying a pair of goals to claim a point.

• With two goals tonight, LAFC now has 50 goals on the season. This is the eighth time in the club’s eight full seasons (not including the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign) that it has scored 50 or more goals.

• Denis Bouanga now has 18 goals on the season, leaving him two shy of reaching the 20-goal plateau for the fourth consecutive season. The Gabon international is one of two players in MLS history (L. Messi) to score 20 or more goals in three consecutive seasons.

• Bouanga’s goal was his 10th in 10 all-time regular season games against the Galaxy. He is now tied with Carlos Vela for the most goals scored in regular-season games in the history of the rivalry between the two clubs. He has scored 12 times against the Galaxy in all competitions, tying him with Vela as the series’ all-time top scorer across all comps.

• Bouanga has scored in each of his last eight appearances against the Galaxy dating back to September 16, 2023, and has now scored more goals against the Galaxy (12) than he has against any other MLS opponent (all competitions).

• With his goal tonight, Leo Walta joins Bouanga, Son Heung-Min, and David Martínez as the only LAFC players to score in consecutive league games in 2026.

• LAFC outshot the visitors 21-11 on the evening. This was the fifth time this season that LAFC has had 20 or more shots in a game. The club is 1-2-2 in those contests.

• LAFC now has 496 points since beginning play in MLS in 2018, leaving the club four points shy of reaching 500 points all-time. With a win and a draw in its final two games this season, LAFC would reach 500 points in its 294th game all-time.