LOS ANGELES – LAFC appeared headed toward a scoreless draw Saturday night at BMO Stadium, but one late moment changed everything. Anders Dreyer converted an 89th-minute penalty to give San Diego FC a 1-0 victory, handing the Black & Gold a frustrating home defeat in a tightly contested match.
LAFC thought it had found the breakthrough in the first half when Denis Bouanga put the ball in the back of the net for what appeared to be the go-ahead goal. The celebration was short-lived, however, as the goal was disallowed. It proved to be a pivotal moment in a match where scoring chances – and margins for error – were limited. The disallowed goal captured much of LAFC’s night.
The Black & Gold were able to create dangerous moments and threaten San Diego FC’s defense, but they could not find the final touch needed to make one count. Son Heung-Min remained active in the attack as LAFC continued searching for a legitimate breakthrough.
San Diego, meanwhile, remained patient and organized. The visitors were willing to possess the ball for stretches while limiting the space available to LAFC’s dangerous attacking players. With neither side able to take control of the scoreboard, the match stayed on knife’s edge deep into the second half. LAFC continued to push after halftime, looking for the goal that had eluded them in the opening 45 minutes. The home crowd sensed an opportunity as the Black & Gold pressed forward, but San Diego FC continued to withstand the pressure and keep the match scoreless.
As regulation approached its final minutes, the match appeared destined to finish without a goal. Instead, the decisive moment came at the other end of the field. San Diego was awarded a late penalty, giving Dreyer the opportunity to break the deadlock. The Danish forward converted in the 89th minute, putting the visitors ahead 1-0 and leaving LAFC with almost no time to respond. The closing moments brought additional drama as Dreyer was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time, forcing San Diego FC to finish the match with 10 men. LAFC made one final push for an equalizer, but the visitors held on through the final whistle.
For LAFC, the defeat will sting because of how close the match came to unfolding differently. Bouanga’s first-half finish briefly looked as though it had given LAFC the advantage, only for the goal to be wiped away. Nearly an hour later, it was San Diego that capitalized on its decisive opportunity. In a match decided by the smallest of margins, LAFC went from believing it had the opening goal to watching San Diego FC leave BMO Stadium with all three points.
For the Black & Gold, the challenge now is to put the frustration behind them and prepare for an away game on Wednesday August 19 against the Colorado Rapids.
Article and photos by Adrian Perez @tnl_fotos
Articles you may be intererested in
LOS ÁNGELES VUELVEN A ABRIR SUS ALAS!
Luego de una mala racha donde LAFC se desconoció de la victoria, empatando sus últimos 3 partidos, y acumulando 2 derrotas. El equipo vuelve a
BARIBO THE HERO: No. 9’s Brace Powers D.C. United Past Columbus Crew, 2-1
WASHINGTON, D.C. — September 9, 2026 — D.C. United defended Audi Field with a 2-1 victory over Columbus Crew on Wednesday night, powered by a
LA28 Olympics: 5 New Sports Coming to Los Angeles in 2028
LOS ANGELES — The 2028 Olympic Games are already shaping up to look very different from previous editions, and Los Angeles is bringing some major
Antonelli’s Remarkable Recovery Ends in Monza Glory
Monza delivered a little bit of everything this weekend: an incredible comeback, a long-awaited home victory, a Mercedes battle for the win and, on the
Alex Palou Caps Historic Season With Fifth IndyCar Championship
Alex Palou closed the 2026 IndyCar season at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca after securing his fifth championship with Chip Ganassi Racing.
Stalemate in Irvine: Late Sacramento Equalizer Denies Orange County SC Victory
Orange County SC appeared headed toward three important points Saturday night, but a late equalizer from Sacramento Republic FC forced the Western Conference rivals to
