LAFC Snap Three-Game MLS Losing Streak as Timothy Tillman's Late Goal Sinks Sounders 1-0

Tyler Boyd had been on the field for seven minutes. Timothy Tillman had not scored a league goal in more than two years. In the 86th minute at BMO Stadium, the two of them made it count: Boyd whipped in a cross from the right, Tillman arrived late in the box and slid a left-footed finish into the bottom left corner, and the building finally exhaled.

That goal gave LAFC a 1-0 win over Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday night, and according to LAFC it snapped a three-game MLS losing streak and a five-game winless run in all competitions. It was the final match before the World Cup break for both clubs, and LAFC will spend the summer with a win in their pocket instead of a four-game skid. "Our goal was a really good goal," head coach Marc Dos Santos said.

Son Fires Away, Nothing Falls

LAFC came out swinging. Son Heung-Min had a shot blocked in the third minute and forced Andrew Thomas into a save from outside the box in the seventh, and Denis Bouanga sent one just over the bar a minute later. The hosts kept piling up attempts, from David Martínez, Mathieu Choinière and Son again, and many of them died on Seattle bodies.

Seattle's first big moment came in the 30th minute, when Hassani Dotson slipped a through ball to Jordan Morris in the middle of the box. Thomas Hasal came off his line and made the save. Son had three more looks before halftime, including a left-footed effort off a Ryan Porteous cross in the 38th minute and a strike from distance in the 43rd that just missed to the left. Bouanga also blazed one over in the 42nd. LAFC took 12 shots in the half, and none of them went in. No added time was announced, and it was 0-0 at the break.

The Second Half Swings to Seattle

The Sounders came out sharper after halftime. Hasal had to deny Morris again within a minute of the restart, and Jackson Ragen fired high and wide after a corner in the 49th. In the 61st minute Cristian Roldan tried his luck from outside the box, and Hasal kept out his shot aimed at the bottom right corner. Brian Schmetzer, who made five changes to his lineup according to the Sounders, then went to his bench, sending on Snyder Brunell and Antino Lopez in the 63rd minute and Danny Musovski in the 69th. Brunell soon made Hasal work with a shot from distance.

Then came the moment that will haunt Seattle all summer. In the 76th minute, Morris set up Musovski on the left side of the six-yard box, and the substitute's right-footed shot smashed off the crossbar. A minute later LAFC went straight up the other end, Mark Delgado found Son in the middle of the box, and Thomas made a full-stretch save. Porteous headed over from close range off the resulting corner in the 78th minute.

Dos Santos turned to Boyd and Stephen Eustaquio in the 79th minute and Nkosi Tafari in the 83rd. Three minutes after that, Boyd delivered. Seattle pushed for a reply with three late corners and blocked shots from Brunell and Albert Rusnák, but LAFC held out through three minutes of stoppage time.

Who Made the Difference

Timothy Tillman took one shot and scored the winner. According to LAFC, it was his first league goal since April 27, 2024, and it came in his 150th match for the club in all competitions. "It's important to arrive late in the box," he said.

Tyler Boyd came off the bench and produced what LAFC said was his first assist for the club, seven minutes after entering.

Thomas Hasal made four saves, on Morris twice, Roldan and Brunell, and LAFC said it was his first MLS shutout of the season. "We really needed a result and I'm just happy to have played a part in that," he said.

Son Heung-Min fired a game-high seven shots and put two on target. He did everything except score, which was the theme of LAFC's evening until the 86th minute.

Mark Delgado went the full 90 minutes, and LAFC said it was his 357th regular-season appearance, tying him for 25th in MLS history.

For Seattle, Jordan Morris put both of his shots on target, and Andrew Thomas made two saves, including the stop on Son that briefly kept the Sounders alive.

The Turning Point

The 76th minute. Musovski had the ball on the left side of the six-yard box and the chance to send Seattle into the World Cup break with a road win. The crossbar said no. Ten minutes later, Tillman scored with LAFC's second shot on target of the half. That is how thin the margins were.

Stats That Matter

• Shots: LAFC 17, Seattle 10.
• Shots on target: Seattle actually led 4-3.
• Possession: Seattle held 51.5 percent.
• Tackles: Seattle made 20 to LAFC's 11, winning 13.
• Saves: Hasal made four, Thomas two.

What It Means

LAFC moved to 7-3-5 with 24 points, and the club said the win lifted them into fifth place in the Western Conference. LAFC also said they are now unbeaten in 10 regular-season home matches against Seattle, with nine wins and a draw, and have kept nine clean sheets in MLS play this season. "But today, good mentality, good way to answer, and good way to finish before the break," Dos Santos said.

Seattle fell to 7-3-3 with 24 points. According to the Sounders, it was their second straight loss and they sit sixth in the West. Kim Kee-Hee made his first start and appearance of the year after recovering from a calf injury, per the club.

Both teams resume in mid-July. LAFC visit the LA Galaxy on Friday, July 17, and Seattle host Portland on Thursday, July 16.

The Closing Take

This was a season finale cliffhanger in May. Seattle hit the bar, LAFC found an unlikely hero, and the credits rolled on the spring with the Black and Gold smiling. Tillman waited more than two years for a league goal. His timing could not have been better.

Stats from ESPN's match data. Postgame quotes and additional match details as reported by LAFC and Seattle Sounders FC.