LAFC moved one step closer to booking a place in the 2026 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs with a 1-1 draw with New York City FC on Saturday night at Citi Field in New York. Leo Walta scored the only goal of the game for LAFC, which is now unbeaten in three games (1W-0L-2D) under interim head coach Xavi Tamarit.
With the draw, LAFC remains in sixth place in the Western Conference standings with a 12W-9L-10D record for 46 points. The club is just two points behind San Jose, who holds the fourth-place spot in the Western Conference, with the top four teams holding home-field advantage in Round One of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Appearing in just his third match with the club and starting for the second time, Walta, a 22-year-old Finnish international, gave LAFC the lead just before halftime with a perfectly placed free kick for his first goal since joining the club in late August. Son Heung-Min was fouled 30 yards from goal to earn the free kick, which Walta curled just inside the left post of goalkeeper Matt Freese to give LAFC a 1-0 halftime advantage.
The hosts came out aggressive to start the second half, forcing Hugo Lloris into a pair of saves in the opening 10 minutes before equalizing just before the hour mark. A corner kick from Nicolás Fernández Mercau found the near post run of Andres Perea, who scored with a powerful header, tying the score 1-1 in the 59th minute.
In the final minute of second-half stoppage time, LAFC had two chances for a late winner, with Denis Bouanga getting behind the defense on the left and hitting a low cross that was cleared away before it could reach Son in front of goal. Then with the game’s final kick, Son got free inside the box on the right and hit a right-footed shot that struck the inside of the post and bounced away, keeping the score 1-1 and giving each team a point.
The next chance for the Black & Gold to clinch an eighth postseason appearance in nine years will come on Sunday, October 25, when the club hosts the rival LA Galaxy at BMO Stadium. That game kicks off at 6 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), with national coverage on SiriusXM FC 157, SiriusXM 95, and Sirius Soccer en Español 1999.
NOTES
- With the win, LAFC is now 12W-9L-10D for 46 points this season and 18-10-14 in all competitions.
- LAFC finishes the season with a 3-1-2 record against Eastern Conference opposition.
- LAFC interim head coach Xavi Tamarit remains unbeaten in his time in charge, collecting a 1-0-2 record for five of a possible nine points.
- LAFC is now 17-0-5 in all competitions when scoring first this year, including 12-0-4 in the league.
- Leo Walta’s goal from a free kick was LAFC’s first goal from a set piece since the 3-2 loss at Nashville on May 17.
- Walta is the 14th different player to score a regular-season goal for LAFC this season. That is tied for the fourth-most goalscorers in club history, four shy of the club record of 18, which was set in 2025.
- LAFC now has 495 points since beginning play in MLS in 2018, leaving the club five points shy of reaching 500 points all-time.
