Los Angeles FC and the host Vancouver Whitecaps fought to a 1-1 draw in a Saturday night heavyweight clash between the two teams atop the Western Conference standings.
Son Heung-Min extended his goal-scoring streak to four when he nabbed the opener for Los Angeles (10-5-4, 34 points). Thomas Muller rescued the point that the Whitecaps (10-3-4, 34 points) needed to remain above LAFC in the standings.
The visiting Black and Gold struck in transition in the first half. Pressure from speedy Jacob Shaffelburg forced a costly turnover out of Vancouver center-back Tristan Blackmon. Denis Bouanga, the beneficiary of the missed pass, played the ball to Son, who turned away from his defender and blasted it past goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka to make it 1-0 in the 37th minute.
Muller tied the match in the 76th minute from the penalty spot after LAFC’s Yevhen Cheberko pulled him down in the box.
LAFC were fortunate to survive an early barrage from the home side. Muller might have found the back of the net had he tried his luck on a 6th-minute break, but he opted instead to play the ball across to a late-arriving Jeevan Badwal, who could not get a shot off.
Brian White was gifted an opportunity 10 minutes later off a Cheberko giveaway, but goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was up to the challenge. White then had a 27th-minute goal chalked off on a clear offside.
Mathieu Choiniere nearly slotted it into an open net in the 78th minute when he caught Takaoka cheating outside his box.
LAFC’s center-back duo had a solid outing — Aaron Long and Ryan Porteous combined for five blocks and 21 clearances on the night. Whitecaps captain Ryan Gauld started his first match at home since March of last year. It was also the first time he and Muller started a match together.
The Whitecaps had their winless run extended to four in all competitions while LAFC dropped their first points since returning from the World Cup break.
–Field Level Media
