Vancouver Earn Playoff Spot With Ten Men in 1-1 Draw at LAFC

Vancouver earned a 1-1 draw at LAFC despite going down to ten men inside the first ten minutes, a result that clinches their playoff spot. Oliver Larraz scored for Vancouver, and the Whitecaps stay top of the West. In a playoff race described as going down to the wire, a point away from home with ten men for almost the whole match was the story of the weekend in Los Angeles.

LAFC could not take advantage. Denis Bouanga got their equaliser, his fifteenth of the season, but they could not beat ten men at home. LAFC are winless in four now, and this was their first game under interim coach Xavi Tamarit. The equaliser kept them level, but the win they needed against a side reduced so early in the match never came, and Vancouver held on for the draw that confirmed their place.

Seattle are the form team. They won 3-0 at New England on Saturday, their fourth straight win, with Dejan Joveljic back in the side and back on the scoresheet. Seattle are nine unbeaten now, a run that stands out alongside Vancouver’s result at the top of the West and LAFC’s failure to win for a fourth game in a row under new interim leadership.

Elsewhere, St Louis thrashed the Galaxy 6-2, Orlando beat Columbus 3-2, and Atlanta’s playoff hopes are fading fast after a 3-1 home defeat to Cincinnati. Those results added to a weekend in which the playoff picture tightened further, with Vancouver’s draw now confirmed as enough for a spot, Seattle continuing to climb through form, and Atlanta losing ground after defeat at home.

The contrast across the weekend was clear. Vancouver lost a player inside ten minutes and still left with the point they needed. LAFC, at home and with an extra man for most of the match, had to settle for a draw. Seattle kept winning, and Atlanta fell further behind, as the race was left to go down to the wire.

From the October 12 episode of The Football Briefing Room.