LAFC eliminated by Vancouver in penalty kicks as Son's late heroics fall short

In an incredibly dramatic Western Conference Semifinal, LAFC saw its season come to a heartbreaking end, falling 4-3 in penalties to the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place. After eliminating Vancouver in each of the past two postseasons, the Black and Gold finally fell victim to the 'Caps in what will go down as an instant classic.

Los Angeles had fallen behind 2-0 through the opening half as Vancouver posted a dominant opening 45 minutes in front of the home crowd. However, Son Heung-min single-handedly willed LAFC back to life, capping off a two-score half with a momentous free kick to equalize in stoppage time.

It was the clutchest moment of his LAFC career to date, punctuating a season in which he provided a desperately needed spark down the stretch. BC Place could only look on in shock as a match that the Whitecaps once controlled with ease abruptly barreled into extra time.

Momentum swung even further in LAFC's favor when Vancouver's Tristan Blackmon was shown a red card in the second minute of second-half stoppage time, a moment that ultimately set the stage for Son's stunning free kick. Despite playing with the numbers in their favor for the entirety of extra time, Los Angeles couldn't convert any of their several chances to find the breakthrough goal.

The penalty kick shootout quickly turned grim for the road side as both Son and Mark Delgado failed to convert, leaving LAFC with a single goal through its first three chances.

Simon Fearn-Imagn Images

In the end, it was Mathías Laborda who rocketed the game-winning penalty past Hugo Lloris to send the Whitecaps to the conference finals for the first time in club history.

Laborda also provided a regulation score for Vancouver in first-half stoppage time, doubling their advantage heading into the locker room. The 26-year-old had not found the net since Sep. 27 before his penalty kick dagger.

Emmanuel Sabi had provided the opening goal of the game for the Whitecaps in the 39th minute, using a clever chip to lift the ball over Lloris and get the home crowd going. Sabi, another unlikely goal contributor, delivered for the first time since a two-score game on Sep. 13.

Son eventually got the Los Angeles rally started with his first goal of the evening in the 60th minute as his third shot of the possession finally snuck past Yohei Takaoka.

Vancouver now awaits the winner of Monday's clash between top-seeded San Diego FC and four-seeded Minnesota United. San Diego, in its inaugural season, is also looking to reach the conference finals for the first time.

Los Angeles has now failed to reach the conference finals for a second consecutive year after being bounced from the competition in the 2024 conference semifinals by Seattle. The club had previously reached back-to-back MLS Cup Finals, capturing its first championship in 2022.

The offseason has now arrived, and changes await on the horizon. Saturday's playoff exit marked head coach Steve Cherundolo's final match with the club, leaving the door open for a new hire heading into the 2026 campaign.

Certain parts of the operation will look different come February 2026 when LAFC takes the pitch for its season opener against Inter Miami at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, but expectations remain unchanged. A motivated group will carry the sting of a playoff run cut short all offseason, determined more than ever to fulfill its MLS Cup aspirations.