LAFC rallies past Quakes, wins top seed in the West.

A win to finish the regular season turned out to be a whole lot more for LAFC.

Going into decision day, LAFC knew they still had a shot to finish first in the Western Conference. First, LAFC had to defeat the San Jose Earthquakes at BMO Stadium, then hope the Houston Dynamo beat the Los Angles Galaxy. Those two results combined would actually put the two LA sides level on points, but LAFC would get the top seed based on goal difference.

However, the last-place Quakes showed they were not going to be anywhere near a simple pushover against its other in-state rival, as Jackson Yueill staked San Jose to the early lead in the first half, but second half goals from Denis Bouanga, Eduard Atuesta and Marlon allowed LAFC to avert disaster and earn the come-from-behind win 3-1 on Saturday night.

“We showed a great emotion tonight, not only as a team but as a club,” LAFC keeper Hugo Lloris said. “At the end of the day its just being first in the regular season. There’s nothing more to celebrate. It’s good because it puts us in a good position for the playoffs. That’s the good feeling tonight.”

As much as the fans enjoyed watching the home team rally to win its final regular season match, the real cheers came shortly the match ended, as the jumbotrons at BMO Stadium showed Houston’s Daniel Steres scoring on a header late in stoppage time of its match against the Galaxy, and when the final whistle of that match blew, LAFC emerged as the regular season champions of the West.

“I live my life with these emotions, and it makes it a bit more tasteful,” Marlon said of the emotions having to play this match. “These emotions come at the top peak of the moment. For me it was incredible, this group deserved it. at the end of the match, we had that reward.”

Trailing 1-0 well into the second half, LAFC finally came alive from the 63rd minute on. The equalizer did come as somewhat of a gift from San Jose, as Timothy Tillman sent a ball into the penalty area, Quakes defender Rodrigues headed a ball the other way, but his header went right to an unmarked Bouanga inside the penalty area, Bouanga brought the ball down and fired a rare right-footed shot that still produced the usual result; as his shot beat keeper Daniel far post to level the match.

Smelling blood, LAFC kept the pressure on, and pulled ahead in the 75th minute. Atuesta worked a one-two with Kei Kamara, Atuesta took the ball into the penalty area. then fired a shot that had the same result as Bouanga’s chance, a goal that beat Daniel far post, to surge LAFC in the lead. Marlon wrapped up the three points for LAFC in the first minute of stoppage time, as he headed a Atuesta free kick past Daniel far post.