Andrew Moran scored in the 90th minute shortly after Los Angeles FC fell behind to help his team earn a 2-2 draw against the Colorado Rapids in a Decision Day match Saturday night in Commerce City, Colorado.
Darren Yapi scored in the 87th minute to give Colorado the lead and improve the team’s chances of sneaking into the playoffs. But the Rapids could not respond to Moran’s goal and were eliminated from the Western Conference playoffs.
Los Angeles FC (17-8-9, 60 points) finished third in the West and will face No. 6 seed Austin FC in the first round of the playoffs.
Colorado’s playoff chases evaporated with FC Dallas and the San Jose Earthquakes winning their matches and Real Salt Lake drawing.
Colorado (11-15-8, 41 points) officially finishes 11th in the West despite being tied on points with Real Salt Lake and San Jose. The top nine advance to the playoffs.
Yapi temporarily put Colorado in playoff position and gave his team the lead for the first time with a diving header that flew past LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. The goal was scored on a cross from Oliver Larraz.
LAFC responded quickly and Jérémie Ebobisse’s right foot was stopped. The rebound came to Moran and he sent a right-footed shot into the net.
Heung-Min Son also scored for LAFC, which had won six of its previous seven matches.
Paxten Aaronsen had the other tally for the Rapids, who were 0-2-2 in their last four games. Zack Steffen made seven saves.
The Rapids struggled to create scoring chances, but capitalized on a major error from LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to level the score in the 62nd minute.
Lloris was nonchalant as he dribbled the ball in front of his own net and Aaronsen began his approach. Lloris tried to kick the ball to his left, but Aaronsen struck with his right foot and kicked the ball into the net.
LAFC outscored the Rapids 13-1 in the first half, but only held a 1-0 lead.
Denis Bouanga had a chance from close range in the 34th minute, but his right-footed shot bounced off Steffen’s arm near the shoulder.
Eight minutes later, Son dribbled towards the net and unleashed a left-footed shot that sailed just over Steffen and into the net. It was Son’s ninth goal in 10 MLS matches with LAFC.
–Field level media
