The LA Galaxy’s bid for a postseason place has suffered a significant blow after a late equaliser from Paul Arriola earned Seattle Sounders a 1-1 draw on Saturday night.
The result at Dignity Health Sports Park proved damaging for a Galaxy side that had been within ten minutes of claiming a vital three points in the MLS Western Conference standings.
The Galaxy have struggled for consistency throughout the summer, losing as often as they have won across the past four weeks, making every result feel increasingly urgent.
With the draw, the Galaxy sit tenth in the Western Conference with a record of 7-10-9 and 30 points, just outside the playoff places on a tiebreaker.
The top nine teams in the Western Conference advance to the MLS postseason, meaning the Galaxy must climb at least one position to secure their place in the playoffs.
San Diego, the team directly ahead of them in the standings, plays on Sunday and currently holds a tiebreaker advantage over the Galaxy heading into that match.
Making matters worse, both San Diego and Real Salt Lake, the team immediately behind the Galaxy, each hold two games in hand over the Los Angeles side.
That combination of fixtures and standings gives the Galaxy very little margin for error with only eight games remaining in the regular season.
Marco Reus was visible in the action for the Galaxy, with the German veteran among those involved as LA looked to push for a result that would have provided meaningful momentum.
The dropped points represent a costly missed opportunity, and the Galaxy will need to find greater consistency in their remaining games if they are to force their way into the postseason.
