LAFC edges Sounders before World Cup break

LOS ANGELES — In dire need of a break, both literally and figuratively, the Los Angeles Football Club found what it was looking for Sunday in a 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders.

Battling their conference rival throughout a tight match at BMO Stadium, LAFC ended a string of four consecutive defeats in all competitions thanks to Timothy Tillman's only goal of the 2026 MLS regular season.

Tillman's score in the 86th minute, his first in MLS since 2024, came as he beat Seattle defender Kalani Kossa-Rienzi to a cross into the six-yard box from forward Tyler Boyd, whose first assist with LAFC occurred shortly after checking into the game.

“Our goal is a really good goal,†said LAFC head coach Marc Dos Santos.

Meanwhile, LAFC's big guns and two highest-paid players – Son Heung-min, who will captain South Korea in the World Cup, and Denis Bouanga – struggled again to capitalize on dangerous moments.

Center back Ryan Porteous set up Son with a great look before halftime that went unfulfilled. Son also whiffed on a header around the hour mark. Bouanga, too, came up empty following a terrific pass by David Martínez in the second half.

Defensively, LAFC looked sharp, producing an 11th clean sheet through 23 matches in all competitions.

Starting a second straight match in goal for a banged-up Hugo Lloris, the iconic Frenchman who captained Les Bleus over the past three World Cups, backup Thomas Hasal made five saves for his first MLS shutout with LAFC, including an excellent reaction to deny Seattle's Jordan Morris in the 30th minute.

“On a night like tonight, I'm happy I could make a couple saves,†Hasal said, “but at the end of the day it's the guys in front of us.â€

LAFC's relentless schedule made them the busiest team in MLS up to this point. As games hit pause while the World Cup unfolds across North America, LAFC (7-5-3) is fifth in the Western Conference, tying the sixth-place Sounders (7-3-3) with 24 points. LAFC is eight points behind West-leading Vancouver and San Jose.

“It's been great in the beginning, tough in the middle and hard in the end,†said Tillman, whose brother Malik is expected to join the U.S. squad in the World Cup. “That's just what football is like. You have ups, you have downs and I think you will learn and grow as a team and hopefully can attack in the second half of the season.â€

The match was Tillman's 150th appearance in an LAFC uniform.

Finally able to rest after an unrelenting slate of matches ping-ponged between MLS and the CONCACAF Champions Cup, LAFC players not going to the World Cup get a mandatory 20 days off and won't officially train with the club again until June 19.

Coming at a moment when general manager John Thorrington and his staff have questions to answer about the team's style of play and roster construction, the MLS secondary transfer window (July 13-Sept. 2) opens four days before LAFC resumes against the Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park.

As far as Dos Santos is concerned, this period is critically important.

“There's no secret that we want to play a certain way here,†the coach said. “I won't hide from it. It's my responsibility. I want our forwards to defend, yes. Yes. Every top team in the world wants their forwards to work. I want our team to run. I want our defenders to be able to shift. I want us to have personality on the ball and not being afraid of having the ball. Keep making runs in behind all the time, we can. So any opportunity in the transfer window that we have to get always closer to our idea of play, trust me we're already working on it right now.â€

Attacking options are likely to change, and Dos Santos wants to bring in players who can be targets inside the box.

Speedy winger David Martínez, 21, has been linked with German Bundesliga club FC Köln, according to reporter Fernando Petrocelli. Dos Santos said no official offer has been made that he's aware of, but he would not be surprised if the talented Venezuelan departed.

“Can it happen in the summer? Of course,†Dos Santos said. “Young player. Talented. Has characteristics where he can play really well inside but also attack spaces. He's fast. He's good coming inside on his left foot. And this year, where he improved compared with last year was defensively. You can't defend the way he did last year and think you're going to Europe or a big club in South America. But now that part has improved.â€

A decision will also be made on Canadian midfielder Stephen Eustáquio.

In February, Portuguese power FC Porto loaned Eustáquio to LAFC through June 30. The move included an option to purchase. The 29-year-old was excellent until an injury in the third league game set him back a month and a half. He has struggled to regain the form that had many of the club's supporters pining for him to stay.

Eustáquio, who is expected to join Canada along with LAFC midfielder Mathieu Choinière at the World Cup, said before Sunday's match that he isn't thinking about what's next on the club side, but with a year left on his contract, the plan right now is to return to Porto.

Then there are players returning from injury.

Brazilian midfielder Igor Jesus underwent surgery last August to repair a torn ACL and is training individually on the field with the performance staff. He's likely to integrate after the break.

Fullback Serg Palencia, who underwent surgery recently to address a muscle injury in his leg, continues to be evaluated.

Forward Jacob Shaffelburg is nursing a muscle concern, too.

Dos Santos wants his players to take time away from the game during the break and he will heed his own advice by visiting Portugal and taking in the Monaco Grand Prix before hunkering down for the second half of the season.

“Every time we played inside our model, we were so consistent as a team,†Dos Santos said of the team's grueling schedule. “We have to take a lot of that, see where we failed, look at what we need as a team. We're not blind. No, we need to improve in some positions. The transfer window is going to be for that. And try to grow from there.â€