Heartbreak on Decision Day: LA Galaxy issued a 'tough reminder'

When the Brazilian striker scored a 96th-minute penalty to give his team an equalizer against Houston Dynamo FC, LA had all but secured the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. A 1-1 draw was within reach and would keep LAFC at bay, although Marlon's late header gave the Black & Gold a 3-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes.

However, the drama surrounding decision day had only just begun.

Former Galaxy defender Daniel Steres headed a 2-1 winner over John McCarthy in the 101st minute, giving Houston all three points and leaving the Galaxy heartbroken.

LAFC and LA both finished Saturday night with 64 points. However, arch-rivals El Tráfico won in the west on goal difference – in the third tie-break of the table.

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“It's a play at the end of the season when there's a season with a lot of plays, but the one play that's the last play of the season just really hurts everyone,” Galaxy manager Greg Vanney said after the game. “I told the group we need to make this a lesson. That hurt us today and cost us first place. The next time like this will cost us the season.”

“I tried to get the message across to the group,” Vanney added. “With a certain amount of calculation you would try to get the goal back and get the tie… but then obviously there was a goal.” That's what happened for LAFC and it was like, “Okay, we've got to push.” ​​And we might have to try to exercise caution.”

Now LA is the No. 2 seed in the West and will face No. 7 Colorado Rapids in the first round of the best-of-3 series of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. They will enter as favorites, but the West's path to the MLS Cup, presented by Audi on December 7, now goes through LAFC's BMO Stadium.

Meanwhile, Houston's win clinched fifth place in the West and a meeting with No. 4 seed Seattle Sounders FC.

“It felt really good – there are a lot of reasons for that,” Steres said. “But just to give us the momentum we need going into the playoffs, it feels good to score a goal like that and help the team get the win here at the top one.”

Even though the last-second drama didn't exactly go to the five-time MLS Cup winner's liking, it was still a warning shot. They know that simple mistakes could cost them the campaign, particularly in the single knockout rounds after the opening series.

“Even when you're a highly competitive, mature group that has a lot of positive things to offer, sometimes you forget that there's a dark side to not doing your jobs right throughout the game,” Vanney said. “Tonight was a tough reminder.”

While the Galaxy won't have the advantages of being the West's top seed, they are still expected to perform well in the postseason. And for Maya Yoshida, who can look back on a career full of big games, this is an even bigger fireworks display.

“I probably won't be able to sleep tonight, but I can promise that I will give it back to the fans of the club and the team through to the playoffs. “I’m getting tested now,” said the vet.

“Sometimes in life people think: Why do things happen to me? We think and think and think, but such a difficult moment is always tested… You will see how I react. I will do my part, reach the final and win the title. That’s my goal from now on.”