Uninspired LAFC drops regular season home finale to Minnesota United FC

LOS ANGELES — There was an opportunity on Sunday evening for LAFC to gain three important points as they push for a top four finish in the Western Conference. Doing so would provide home-field advantage in the opening round, best-of-three series of the MLS Cup Playoffs. Instead, they put forth a lackluster effort, falling 3-1 to Minnesota United FC at BMO Stadium. 

It was Minnesota's first victory against the Black & Gold in Los Angeles since 2019. LA finished with a 9-4-4 record in their 17 home games this season, with one final match remaining on the road before postseason play begins.

"I am responsible. I am not happy," interim head coach Xavi Tamarit said. "All of us, we are very disappointed with this game…we want to say sorry to the people who were in the stadium, who were watching us on the TV, because this is not the team we want to show."

LAFC got off to a slow start from the beginning, stringing together a disorganized attack and failing to generate any real chances through the opening 30 minutes. The defense held firm for most of that stretch, holding Minnesota without a shot attempt through its first 28 minutes.

Midfielder Joaquín Pereyra, with his squad's first attempt of the match, made it a 1-0 game in favor of the visitors in minute 29. He took advantage of a well-placed throw-in from defender Cherrion Valerius, which dropped down perfectly in front of Pereyra as he rocketed his shot past Hugo Lloris.

Ruben Ibarra II – The Sporting Tribune

Minnesota United FC midfielder Joaquín Pereyra (26) smiles during the first half of an MLS soccer match against LAFC at BMO Stadium, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles.

Valerius kept the momentum rolling in Minnesota's favor, adding a score of his own just five minutes later. He used his run to meet a header from forward Kelvin Yeboah and volley it over the top of Lloris to make the score 2-0.

The second half was no different. LAFC continued to look stagnant and impatient. Their runs came across as forced, and the quality of chances did not get any better until the late stages.

Denis Bouanga, Son Heung-min and the rest of the attack simply lacked the composure and cohesiveness to turn their luck around and claw back. There would be no repeat of the 2-0 lead that they erased last Sunday against the LA Galaxy.

Pereyra scored the dagger goal in the 81st minute to earn himself a brace, drilling a left-footed strike from distance that Lloris could not get to in time with his diving attempt. It was just the second time since May 17 that LA has surrendered three goals in a single match.

Despite the overall disappointment that flowed through BMO Stadium on Sunday, Sergio Vásquez provided what was perhaps the flashiest goal of the season for LAFC to prevent a shutout. He leapt into the air, firing a bicycle kick strike that just managed to sneak past Minnesota goalkeeper Drake Callender.

"It's a little uncomfortable given the defeat," said Vásquez of his goal. "I think there was some errors in that game that is not characteristic of us as a team, but there are things that we need to correct and get better at. As far as the goal goes, it's the first bicycle kick in my career. It's a very beautiful moment for me in my career, so I'm happy and grateful for that moment."

It was Vásquez's first goal as a member of the Black & Gold, coming in minute 90 to help avoid the club's first scoreless outing since Sept. 26.

Just one match remains in the regular season, with LAFC set to face off against the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field next Saturday, Nov. 7. LA defeated Seattle 1-0 in their first meeting of the year on May 24, but the home side will be highly motivated this time around. The Sounders sit just one spot out of a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

"Of course I am not happy with that performance, but I am not so worried because every team can have one bad day," Tamarit said. "What we cannot do is not reflect, not learn. Because if we learn, it can be a good medicine before playoffs. If we don't learn, we will be in trouble."

For LAFC, concern remains about consistency. Consecutive wins haven't come since late July, and Tamarit has coached his club to only a single victory in five tries. Time is running thin, and the postseason looms, whether LA can prove that it's poised for it or not.