They say the game's not over until the ref blows the whistle. But for LA Galaxy, the nightmare came right after that whistle, in a hair-raising twist of fate. Gabriel Pec almost led the team to glory with a clutch penalty deep into stoppage time, but in the dying breath of the game, destiny showed up like a ghost. A header in the 101st minute and their dream of finishing first in the Western Conference vanished into thin air.
A penalty in the 96th minute put LA Galaxy inches away from locking down the top spot in the West. Even with LAFC winning their game, it looked like Galaxy was going to hold onto first place and savor that sweet feeling of being one step ahead of their biggest rival. The crowd felt the rush, already tasting the victory. But then came Steres—someone who used to wear the Galaxy jersey—showing up at the last second to twist the knife and hand Houston Dynamo FC the win. It was a gut punch no one saw coming, and Galaxy watched the top of the table slip through their fingers like sand.
Follow MLS Multiplex on X (Twitter).
The rivalry between LA Galaxy and LAFC always steals the spotlight. And while soccer fans in Los Angeles are used to it, the rest of the country is starting to take notice. This loss isn’t just about missing out on first place. Galaxy is still wrestling with inconsistencies that could be fatal in the playoffs. If they can’t fix these cracks in their game when it matters most, their season might end sooner than they’d like.
With second place locked in, LA Galaxy now faces Colorado Rapids in a best-of-three series. On paper, they’re the favorites. But what happened on Saturday should serve as a serious wake-up call. There’s no room for error anymore. It’s not just about talent; it’s about mindset.
Daniel Steres, former Galaxy defender, was the one who crushed his old club's hopes of grabbing the top spot in the West. He, who surely still has fond memories of his time in Los Angeles, picked the worst possible moment to show off his skills. In a play that was as much luck as it was skill, Steres secured the three points for Houston Dynamo and, on top of that, taught his old team a tough lesson.
For Galaxy, the journey is far from over, but they’ve got to learn quickly. The Western Conference lead may have slipped through their fingers, but that doesn’t mean they’re out of the race. The fans still believe, the squad’s got quality, and the experience of players like Yoshida could be the X-factor when everything’s on the line.