Late equalizer salvages a point on Decision Day: 5 stats from LAFC’s 2-2 Draw in Colorado

It's not the position Steve Cherundolo and LAFC hoped for — but it's the position they earned.

LAFC finished the 2025 regular season with a 2-2 draw against the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Colorado, on Decision Day, the simultaneous round of games that determines who will advance to the MLS postseason.

With the tie, the Black and Gold secured the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and a Round One playoff spot, finishing behind San Diego and Vancouver. The result earns home-field advantage against Austin FC, a team that defeated LAFC twice this season—both times employing suffocating defense and taking advantage of the team's weaknesses in defending set pieces.

The tie against Chris Armas's team in Colorado wasn't pretty, though. On a night when LAFC dominated the first half, initially led, and outshot the Rapids 17-13, it took a 90th-minute goal from Andrew Moran — his first for the club — to salvage the point.

And, as usual, here are the five stats that defined the match.

xG: LAFC 1.71 — Colorado 1.30 → LAFC Created More, But Couldn't Finish It

Despite conceding twice, LAFC created more chances throughout the match. They had four big opportunities, scored two goals, and had several chances off rebounds, post hits, and build-up plays, but they fell just short of the win.

Denis and Son showed strong chemistry playing side by side, but Zach Steffen was there to prevent a worse result. Unsurprisingly, the second half was much more favorable for the Rapids, who thrive on their opponents' fatigue in Denver's altitude.

Unlucky, you may say, but at least bad luck didn't strike during the playoffs. At least, not just quite yet.

📊 xG: LAFC 1.71 | COL 1.30 — deserved more? Maybe. Finished better? No.

Shots: LAFC 17 — Colorado 13 → Strong Start, Shaky Finish

LAFC dominated the first half: 13 shots to 1, with no attempts on target allowed before the break. But the second half was a different story. Colorado clawed back with two second-half goals, flipping momentum late.

🔄 First half shots: 13–1 LAFC | Second half: 12–4 Colorado

3. Possession: 53% Colorado — 47% LAFC → On the Counter, By Design

LAFC conceded possession but still created more chances. This is another reminder that this team doesn't need the ball to be effective, especially when Bouanga and Son are in space.

What's interesting is how close Denis and Sonny are to each other on the pitch at all times. They're constantly looking to link up front. That's a good sign when you re-watch the game tape. The attack is clicking, and build-up play is becoming much smoother between the two.

⚠️ LAFC's lowest possession in four of the last five games, still generated four big chances.

4. Son Scores Again, Moran Debut Goal → 500th Goal Milestone

Son Heung-min's 42nd-minute goal was a clinical finish after clearing two defenders in space — it also marked LAFC's 500th regular-season goal, making them the fastest club in MLS history to reach the milestone (260 games).

Moran's late equalizer added his name to club history too — and solidified the young player's role into Cherundolo's playoff rotation, relegating an electrifying David Martinez to no minutes during the last game of the season.

🥇 500 goals in 260 games — MLS record

5. Defensive Errors at Inopportune Times

Despite facing only three shots on target, LAFC allowed two goals: one because of a loose touch from Lloris, and the other from a diving header that split the backline. Neither goal resulted from sustained buildup — instead, they came from minor lapses.

🧱 Goals conceded: 87' diving header, 62' goalkeeping error — costly moments

Final Word: Job Done, But Caution Signs Remain

LAFC finishes the season 17-8-9 (60 pts) and heads into a Round One best-of-three series with Austin FC. The form is solid, the attack is back at full strength, but lapses like those in Colorado will be punished in October.

Not that this game mattered that much. Win, tie, or loss, the standings for the Black and Gold would have ended the same: third in the West.

LAFC did itself no favors in last week's loss to Austin, other than ensuring the Verdes would enter the postseason believing they can surprise everyone with two wins over LAFC.

LAFC fans can blame FIFA all they want for the team's offensive woes in Texas, since the team didn't have either of its superstars on the pitch to score last weekend. Still, there were many missed opportunities in previous games, including a painful loss at home to San Diego FC, so the blame lay not with anyone but the team itself.

And just like that, Steve Cherundolo's regular-season career with LAFC is over. The team's playoff run starts next week at BMO — and the margin for error got even smaller, with the Verdes looking to put an early end to Denis, Sonny, and Lloris' season.