Los Angeles FC midfielder Mark Delgado, front, attempt to recover the ball against the San Diego FC during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Son Heung-Min, front, takes a goal shot against the San Diego FC during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Son Heung-Min reacts after not getting an expected foul call against the San Diego FC during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Timothy Tillman moves the ball against the San Diego FC during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga, left, is pulled by San Diego FC midfielder Manu Duah during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga, right, battles for the ball with San Diego FC defender Oscar Verhoeven during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC defender Eddie Segura (4) looks to pass against the San Diego FC during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC defender Yevhen Cheberko (23) controls the ball as San Diego FC forward Anders Dreyer looks on during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris kicks the ball into play against the San Diego FC during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Timothy Tillman (11) and teammate forward Ryan Porteous (5) reacts to an expected foul call against the San Diego FC during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, bottom, goes the wrong way as San Diego FC forward Anders Dreyer, not pictured, converts a penalty kick for a goal during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. San Diego FC won 1-0. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
San Diego FC forward Anders Dreyer celebrates after converting a penalty kick for a goal against the Los Angeles FC during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. San Diego FC won 1-0. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Ryan Porteous, left, is held by San Diego FC midfielder Onni Valakari during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. San Diego FC won 1-0. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Son Heung-Min, center, is held by San Diego FC midfielder Onni Valakari, left, and defender Ian Murphy during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. San Diego FC won 1-0. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga, left, battles for the ball with San Diego FC defender Luca Bombino during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. San Diego FC won 1-0. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC defender Nkosi Tafari winds up to kick the ball against the San Diego FC during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. San Diego FC won 1-0. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
San Diego FC goalkeeper CJ Dos Santos makes a save against the Los Angeles FC during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. San Diego FC won 1-0. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC supporters cheer during the second half of an MLS match against the San Diego FC at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. San Diego FC won 1-0. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
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Los Angeles FC midfielder Mark Delgado, front, attempt to recover the ball against the San Diego FC during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LOS ANGELES — Three and a half months ago, a dramatic late comeback at Snapdragon Stadium earned the Los Angeles Football Club its only point in three matches against San Diego FC.
On Saturday at BMO Stadium, SDFC more than returned the favor, converting an 89th-minute penalty that broke a scoreless tie and the Black & Gold’s eight-match unbeaten streak.
A frantic match ended 1-0 after LAFC center back Ryan Porteous was called for a handball in the box while defending a corner kick. Coming off the head of a San Diego player, Porteous jumped to make a play on the ball, but it banged off the Scottish player’s left hand, which was raised above his head.
Moroccan referee Ismail Elfath, who oversaw four World Cup matches, including a semifinal pitting Argentina and England, went to the monitor and pointed to the spot.
Danish forward Anders Dreyer stepped up and beat LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to spoil what would have been his 11th clean sheet in 17 MLS matches this season.
In stoppage time, Dreyer was shown a second yellow card for a hard foul on Son Heung-min, but the damage was already done.
The teams’ intense box-to-box energy fizzled inside the 18, as they combined for one shot on target through 45 minutes, plus another three by the final whistle.
LAFC (10-6-4, 34 points) appeared to take the lead in the 22nd minute when Timothy Tillman played a long ball over the top to Denis Bouanga, but the goal was disallowed after the referee ruled the ball hit Bouanga’s right hand.
In the 36th minute, Bouanga again found himself in the box and did the right thing, cutting the ball back to an open Son Heung-min in front of the goal mouth. However, former LAFC academy product Luca Bombino slid in from behind the play to knock the ball out of play.
Bombino was sent on loan by LAFC to SDFC (6-7-6, 24 points) prior to last season, and was officially traded to San Diego in November for $200,000 in 2026 general allocation money.
LAFC’s first defeat in any competition since a loss in Nashville on May 17 comes days after being eliminated in the Leagues Cup tournament.
LAFC visits Colorado on Wednesday and returns home next weekend to host Portland.
More to come on this story.
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