Oliver Larraz scored a goal late in the first half as the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps pulled off a 1-1 draw against Los Angeles FC on Saturday to clinch a playoff berth despite playing a majority of the match down a man.
The Whitecaps (15-7-6, 51 points) remained in first place in the Western Conference and have six regular-season matches remaining to lock down a No. 1 playoff seed.
Yohei Takaoka made three saves for Vancouver, which rebounded from a 3-1 road loss against the Chicago Fire on Tuesday in the club’s return from the international break.
Denis Bouanga scored a goal for LAFC (11-9-9, 42 points) in the debut of interim head coach Xavi Tamarit, who was named to his position last week when Marc Dos Santos was fired.
Hugo Lloris made two saves for LAFC, who have just one victory over their last 11 league matches (1-4-6). Despite the struggles, LAFC remained in sixth in the standings, which would qualify for a playoff spot.
Trouble appeared to arrive early for the Whitecaps when Tristan Blackmon was given a straight red card in the seventh minute for denying a goal-scoring opportunity to Jacob Shaffelburg with a foul.
Despite going down a man, the Whitecaps held possession for a majority of the first half and finally used it to their advantage when Larraz scored in the 43rd minute. Larraz’s initial header off a cross from Edier Ocampo was saved by Lloris but he scored with his right foot into the roof of the goal on the rebound.
LAFC tied the score just 40 seconds into the second half. Sergi Palencia delivered a cross into the penalty area and Bouanga scored on a header from just outside the 6-yard box.
Bouanga has at least 15 goals in each of the past four seasons for LAFC.
–Field Level Media
