Marlon Santos scored his first MLS goal in stoppage time Saturday night to help Los Angeles FC beat the San Jose Earthquakes 3-1 in the regular season finale for both teams.
LAFC (19-8-7), which is tied with the LA Galaxy atop the Western Conference with 64 points, earned the No. 1 seed in the playoffs based on goal differential — a one-goal difference. LAFC plays a best-of-three first-round series against the winner of one-game wild card between the No. 8 seed Vancouver Whitecaps and the ninth-seeded Portland Timbers.
Eduard Atuesta came on in the 75th minute and scored moments later to give LAFC the lead for good at 2-1.
Jackson Yuell scored in the ninth minute to give San Jose (6-25-3) a 1-0 lead.
Get top local stories in Southern California delivered to you every morning. >Sign up for NBC LA's News Headlines newsletter.
LAFC's Denis Bouanga made it 1-1 in the 64th.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!? 🤯
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 20, 2024
DECISION DAY DRAMA 😲@HoustonDynamo takes down the @LAGalaxy with a 101st minute goal and LAFC fans are loving it.@LAFC clinch the top seed in the West! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/I9kkEwiCR4
