Cramps thwart Son’s penalty kick, helping end LAFC’s MLS Cup bid in heartbreaking loss
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- Vancouver Whitecaps defeated LAFC 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw, reaching the Western Conference final for the first time.
- Son Heung-min scored twice to equalize the match but missed his penalty kick in the shootout, ending LAFC’s playoff hopes.
- The semifinal at BC Place drew a club-record crowd of 53,957, witnessing defender Mathias Laborda score in regulation and the shootout.
VANCOUVER, Canada — LAFC’s Son Heung-min led a heroic effort to force extra time, but an ill-timed cramp helped thwart the team’s push to extend its season in penalty kicks.
Defender Mathias Laborda scored a first-half goal before delivering the winner in a penalty-kick shootout, and the Vancouver Whitecaps beat LAFC 6-5 in a Western Conference semifinal Saturday night before a club-record crowd of 53,957 at BC Place.
It was the final match for LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo, who led the team to the MLS Cup final twice in his first three seasons, winning the championship in 2022, and fell just short of the title game this year. He said in April that this season would be his last.
“I feel terrible for our players,” Cherundolo said. “They really put everything into the second half and put themselves in a great position to win the game. I’m just really gutted for them. It’s just a tough one to accept.”
The second-seeded Whitecaps advanced to their first Western Conference final after the clubs played to a 2-2 draw through regulation and 30 minutes of overtime.
Son scored twice in the second half to pull LAFC even, including a stunning free kick five minutes into second-half stoppage time to tie the game.
The teams couldn’t score during an extra period and advanced to penalty kicks to settle the playoff match.
Son banged his shot off the post to open the shootout, while Sebastian Berhalter scored on the Whitecaps’ first attempt. LAFC’s Denis Bouanga and Vancouver’s Jayden Nelson traded goals before Marco Delgado sent his shot over the goal for LAFC. Ryan Gauld scored to give the Whitecaps a 3-1 lead, but LAFC evened the score before Laborda found the net.
“In that moment, you have to step up. Always, I like to step up in big moments. I work for that,” Son said. “... Final second half of extra time, I just had a muscle cramp and didn’t have a good feeling, but I tried to step up. When I tried to shoot the penalty, in the last moment I felt the cramp again and it was not [as accurate] as I could [have been.] ... It’s all on me. I have to take responsibility. Players did everything they could. I’m very, very pleased. I’m very proud. ... Next season, we can come back stronger than ever.”
Steve Cherundolo is hoping to guide LAFC to a second MLS Cup title before he leaves the team to return with his family to Europe.
Vancouver advances to the conference final for the first time since joining the league in 2011. The Whitecaps await the winner of Monday’s match between expansion side San Diego FC, the No. 1 seed, and fourth-seeded Minnesota United.
Vancouver took a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute when goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka kicked the ball three-quarters the length of the field to a streaking Emmanuel Sabbi, who finished for his first postseason goal in his third appearance.
The Whitecaps took a two-goal lead into halftime after Laborda scored unassisted in the first minute of stoppage time. It was Laborda’s first postseason goal in seven appearances over the last three seasons.
LAFC cut it to 2-1 early in the second half on an unassisted goal by Son in the 60th minute. It was Son’s first postseason goal in his third appearance after scoring nine goals in 10 appearances in the regular season.
His equalizer in the 95th minute, however, sparked pandemonium as the whole team went wild.
Major League Soccer is flipping its calendar to align with other pro leagues around the world starting in 2027. MLS also approved other format changes.
Takaoka totaled six saves for the Whitecaps. He has given up 12 goals over nine postseason starts in the last three seasons.
Hugo Lloris saved four shots for No. 3 seed LAFC in his seventh playoff start over the last two seasons.
The Whitecaps lost in their two previous trips to the semifinals in 2015 and 2017 and struggled to get past LAFC in the Western Conference playoffs.
Cherundolo said it is difficult to end the season on a close loss, but he appreciates the success his staff enjoyed during four years leading LAFC.
“We have a lot to be proud of,” he said. “... Being able to have sustained success in this league where it’s designed for teams not to have that is a lot harder to do than people think, and I think that’ll be something we’ll remember.”
