A frustrated Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga, front, closes his eyes after the Vancouver Whitecaps celebrate their goal, back, during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC defender Eddie Segura (4) kicks the ball defended by Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Gauld during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Armindo Sieb (9) controls the ball against Vancouver Whitecaps defender Édier Ocampo during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Son Heung-Min, bottom, losses the ball against Vancouver Whitecaps defender Mathías Laborda during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC supporters cheer during the first half of an MLS match against the Vancouver Whitecaps at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC defender Ryan Hollingshead, left, chases the ball against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka (1) deflects the ball against the Los Angeles FC during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC defender Yevhen Cheberko, right, winds up to kick the ball defended by Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Gauld during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Mark Delgado, top, heads the ball defended by Vancouver Whitecaps defender Édier Ocampo during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Leo Walta, left, controls the ball as he pushes off on Vancouver Whitecaps defender Mathías Laborda during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga controls the ball against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the second half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC midfielder Sergio Vásquez, left, controls the ball defended by Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Oliver Larraz during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Son Heung-Min reacts after missing a goal attempt against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga, back, watches his kicked ball head towards Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga, center, attemps to recover the ball between Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ralph Priso, left, and Vancouver Whitecaps defender Tate Johnson during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Armindo Sieb, left, vies for the ball with Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Andrés Cubas (20) during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC forward Jacob Shaffelburg, left, vies for the ball with Vancouver Whitecaps defender Édier Ocampo during the first half of an MLS match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LOS ANGELES — New coach. Old problems.
Playing for the first time under interim manager Xavi Tamarit following the firing of Marc Dos Santos two weeks ago, the Los Angeles Football Club operated nearly the entire match against the Vancouver Whitecaps with a man advantage.
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But falling behind deep into the first half and leveling the contest coming out of the break on Denis Bouanga’s 15th goal of the regular season, a draw was the best LAFC could do at BMO Stadium on Saturday.
The 1-1 result pushed LAFC (11-9-9, 42 points) to one win, four defeats and six draws since the start of August — a difficult stretch that cost Dos Santos his spot at the helm as the Black & Gold struggled to dictate terms, find the back of the net, or keep pace with its Western Conference rivals.
Vancouver midfielder Oliver Larraz’s 43rd-minute goal, his first of the season, would not hold up as the game-winner, but the Whitecaps remained unbeaten (14-0-2), getting on the board before their opponent.
Bouanga’s equalizer, a drilled header from a perfect cross into the box by fullback Sergi Palencia, came in the 46th minute.
The Whitecaps (15-7-6, 51 points) lost in Chicago on Tuesday to begin a stretch of five straight road games. They coveted a playoff-clinching performance against LAFC, but playing without center back Tristan Blackmon from the 6th minute on changed the calculus.
Blackmon, an LAFC original in 2018, was whistled for a foul just outside the box. In a transition moment, Son put the ball into space for Jacob Shaffelburg, leaving the Canadian winger one-on-one against Vancouver’s last defender, prompting referee Guido Gonzales Jr., to show Blackmon a straight red card.
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Son drove the subsequent free kick from 22 yards at the far post, but Japanese goalkeeper Yohei Takoaka pushed it aside.
Despite being down a man, Vancouver managed to put its leading scorer, center forward Brian White, in on goal against Hugo Lloris, yet his shot in the 22nd minute was struck directly at the French goalkeeper.
As the Whitecaps settled in, LAFC was tasked with working around and through the opposing low block. Tamarit’s group struggled to do so and wouldn’t generate another chance until a cross from Armindo Sieb found Son in front of goal in the 27th minute.
Following a successful international window for South Korea, when Son finished three goals to become his nation’s all-time leading scorer, Tamarit started the attacker underneath Bouanga in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Son and Bouanga rarely paired up throughout the match, and much of LAFC’s attack, as it was, manifested from the wings.
LAFC finished with four shots on goal to Vancouver’s three.
Ecuadorian midfielder Sergio Vásquez made his first start for LAFC. And 20-year-old Brazilian forward Thayllon Roberth made his debut for the club as a late substitute.
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