The 2025 edition of El Tráfico delivered yet another dramatic chapter as the Los Angeles Galaxy staged a thrilling late comeback to secure a 3-3 draw against crosstown rivals Los Angeles FC at BMO Stadium on Saturday night. In a match brimming with tension, skill, and controversy, the Galaxy’s captain Maya Yoshida rose to the occasion with a last-gasp header in the seventh minute of stoppage time to snatch a point that felt more like a victory for the struggling defending MLS Cup champions.
Trailing twice by two-goal deficits, the Galaxy showcased resilience and grit that has become their hallmark in recent games despite their overall difficult season. Gabriel Pec was instrumental, netting two crucial goals to keep his side in contention. Meanwhile, LAFC’s Denis Bouanga continued his remarkable El Tráfico legacy, scoring twice and becoming the first player in club history to score in six consecutive matches against the Galaxy.
LAFC started strong, with Bouanga opening the scoring in the 26th minute. The Gabonese international timed his run perfectly onto a pass from Ryan Hollingshead and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot past Galaxy goalkeeper Novak Micovic. Just five minutes later, Javairo Dilrosun doubled the lead with a composed finish from a Nathan Ordaz cross, marking his second goal of the MLS season.
However, the Galaxy responded before halftime when Pec earned a penalty after his header struck Hollingshead’s hand in the box. The 24-year-old Brazilian winger calmly converted the spot-kick in the 36th minute to cut the deficit to 2-1, breathing life into the visitors.
LAFC regained their two-goal cushion in the 67th minute when Bouanga sprinted past the Galaxy defense on a breakaway and slotted his 13th goal of the season past Micovic. The home side appeared in control, with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris making three key saves and LAFC having outscored opponents 9-3 in their last four games.
But the Galaxy refused to fold. Pec struck again in the 79th minute, finishing off a slick passing move with a left-footed shot to narrow the gap to 3-2. The momentum shifted as Galaxy midfielder Marco Reus, who has been a beacon of creativity and leadership, helped orchestrate the late surge.
Tempers flared in the dying moments of the match. A foul by Galaxy’s Mauricio Cuevas on LAFC’s David Martínez sparked a heated brawl involving up to ten players. Referee Guido Gonzales issued yellow cards to Cuevas and Diego Fagundez, but LAFC defender Eddie Segura was handed a straight red card for grabbing Fagundez by the neck, forcing LAFC to finish the game a man down.
The ensuing scrum extended stoppage time well beyond the initial five minutes. With LAFC shorthanded and desperate to hold on, the Galaxy seized their final chance. Cuevas delivered a perfectly weighted cross into the penalty area, and Yoshida, who had not scored in 15 months, flicked a decisive header past Lloris seven seconds before the 97th minute expired. The goal not only leveled the score but was the latest in El Tráfico history, igniting wild celebrations for the visitors.
“The good thing is, my daughter doesn’t like LAFC,” Yoshida quipped postgame. “So at least I can go home with a smile and hopefully she’s going to be proud of me.” His goal capped a spirited comeback and underscored the Galaxy’s fighting spirit despite their last-place standing in the Western Conference.
Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney praised his team’s perseverance: “These games are crazy always, so in a rivalry game or any game you never give up. These games specifically have always had a way to have some crazy in them and didn’t disappoint there at the end.”
For LAFC, the draw was a bitter pill to swallow. Coach Steve Cherundolo lamented, “It should never really have gotten to that point. Being a little naive in that moment cost us two points. That’s it. Sometimes you’ve got to hold on and grind out results. And tonight we came up 10 seconds too short.”
Bouanga, despite his brace and record-breaking achievement, echoed the disappointment: “[The Galaxy] got problems of alignment, we found the solution three times. I could have done more. For me, it’s disappointing.” His six consecutive games with a goal against the Galaxy surpassed the previous five-game record set by LAFC legend Carlos Vela, moving him closer to Vela’s all-time club scoring record.
The match was a rollercoaster not only on the scoreboard but also in terms of discipline and physicality. The teams combined for seven yellow cards, and the late red card to Segura was a pivotal moment that altered the game’s closing dynamics.
Despite the draw, LAFC remain in fifth place in the Western Conference with a 10-5-6 record, a point shy of a home playoff berth. The team has been battling fatigue, having played five matches in 21 days, which coach Cherundolo cited as a factor in their inability to close out the game.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy, with a 3-14-7 record, have been mathematically eliminated from the MLS Supporters’ Shield race but continue to fight for pride and momentum. They have lost only two of their last five games and are hopeful about making an improbable push for the playoffs, beginning with their next match against Houston Dynamo on July 25.
Marco Reus reflected on the team’s mindset: “These games show again a little bit of the rollercoaster this season. Somehow, we keep our mentality. It shows in the game that we are not giving up, especially in this situation where we are away in a derby... I had the feeling that we could win this game if we played a little bit faster.”
El Tráfico once again proved why it is one of the most fiercely contested and unpredictable rivalries in MLS history. From Bouanga’s historic scoring run to Yoshida’s last-second heroics, the match had everything — goals, drama, controversy, and passion — leaving fans eager for the next chapter in this intense crosstown saga.
