LOS ANGELES — Wrapping up its MLS regular season home schedule Sunday, the Los Angeles Football Club may have foreclosed on its season instead.
Suffering a 3-1 defeat to Minnesota United FC, which entered the contest in 13th place in the Western Conference, LAFC fell flat on its face during Fan Appreciation night.
Only a wonder goal by Sergio Vásquez, who connected on a bicycle kick just inside the box in the 90th minute, prevented the worst shutout defeat for LAFC at BMO Stadium in league competition.
LAFC finished its home slate with a 9-4-4 record. Unable to secure three points against Minnesota, which avoided elimination by winning, LAFC will visit Seattle on Decision Day locked into the 6th seed.
For the fifth game under interim head coach Xavi Tamarit, LAFC was hardly dangerous through 45 minutes.
Unsurprisingly, for the fifth straight game, LAFC opened with Denis Bouanga in the striker position as opposed to the left wing, where the Frenchman has been the best in MLS three years running.
Bouanga took it upon himself to move outside in the 30th minute once Minnesota went ahead, but it made no difference on a disappointing evening for the announced crowd of 22,168.
Minnesota (10-12-11, 41 points) grabbed the lead when Sergi Palencia’s attempted clearance in the 29th minute landed in front of midfielder Joaquin Pereyra inside the middle of the box. The Argentine coolly volleyed in the first of two goals on the evening past Hugo Lloris.
LAFC’s best chance of the first half came moments later when Son Heung-min forced goalkeeper Drake Callender to make a low diving save to his left.
After defending the ensuing corner kick, Callender rolled the ball to his left to begin a sequence that shredded the Black & Gold. Seven Minnesota players touched the ball as it progressed from one end of the field to the other, leading Dutch defender Cherrion Valerius to hit a first-time volley off a headed assist from Kelvin Yeboah.
Down 2-0 at the half, LAFC shuffled some pieces around but it made little difference.
Pereyra’s fifth goal of the season came in the 81st minute with a left-footed shot inside the far post.
Minnesota scored on each of the three shots it put on target.
LAFC finished 1-for-7.
The loss means LAFC (12-10-11, 47 points) has nothing to play for next weekend in Seattle. They will begin the MLS Cup playoffs best-of-three opening round later this month in San Jose, St. Louis or Houston.