LOS ANGELES -- The LA Galaxy threw away a Joseph Paintsil brace and a two-goal lead against city neighbors LAFC, and just about held on for a 2-2 away draw in the latest edition of El Tráfico on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at BMO Stadium.
"Yeah, for us, it feels like a missed opportunity," the goalscorer Paintsil told the Sporting Tribune in a post-match press conference after seeing his two goals erased.
However, the Ghanaian winger emphasized the importance of the point earned and its impact on the playoff race.
"You know, every point also counts," Paintsil continued. Having one point is also something that can also really help us, especially if we win all the games that's left."
But the truth is, the missed opportunity will sting.
The result is a huge letdown for the Galaxy, who would've earned their first victory at LAFC since August 22, 2020. It also would have given the G's a measure of revenge after losing 3-0 in the reverse fixture earlier this season. Better still, it would have also put the Galaxy in the all-time lead for wins in El Tráfico with 11.
LA Galaxy Winger Joseph Paintsil scored both goals for LA during the Galaxy's 2-2 draw against LAFC on October 25, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Steven Park - The Sporting Tribune
LA Galaxy Winger Joseph Paintsil scored both goals for LA during the Galaxy's 2-2 draw against LAFC on October 25, 2026, at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Instead, the visitors are left to rue the dropped points on a weekend when many of the teams behind them in the Western Conference table picked up a result and closed the gap on the Galaxy.
"Unfortunately, we've got to mature up real fast on those moments," LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney confessed. "Because as you get to these days, which are essentially the playoffs now, I mean, everything now through the rest of the year essentially is the playoffs. You've got to be, you've got to make really mature, sharp decisions for 90 plus minutes. You can't do it just to get until you get a two-goal lead."
It could've been worse. Vanney's side could be fortunate to leave with any points at all, after gifting the hosts a way back into the game and almost the win.
Seemingly buried at 2-0, Denis Bouanga pounced on a JT Marcinkowski block that the keeper failed to parry away for a lifeline at 2-1. 10 minutes later, Leo Walta punished Emiro Garces' failed clearance to complete the home comeback tie on a day when the Colombian center-back showed his worth several times, but made a customary high-profile mistake.
Full time sounded not a moment too soon for both Garces and the Galaxy defense, who escaped with the point, but in typical El Tráfico fashion, the result was not without controversy.
LAFC will feel hard done by not getting the come-from-behind win after having two goals disallowed.
The first disallowed strike came in the first half before the Galaxy's opener, with Armindo Sieb judged offside in the lead-up to Heung-Min Son's rebound goal from Bouanga's shot.
The second came seconds before the match ended.
This time, Bouanga's potential game-winner was canceled after several LAFC players were offside on the free kick that started the contentious play. And in shades of last week's home draw with San Diego FC, another game in which LA blew a lead, the Galaxy were fortunate to hang on and hear the final whistle sound.
Vanney acknowledged that his team was physically fatigued and perhaps a bit overwhelmed by the atmosphere.
"Yeah, listen, I think that's El Trafico," the Galaxy boss told media in a post-match press conference. "And I think even sometimes even more here at this stadium because I feel like people are even closer to the field than, say, in the Galaxy Stadium. Like I feel like the tension really builds here a lot… I certainly felt like there were some moments in the game where the emotion was building up."
But the Galaxy have only themselves to blame for letting emotion get the best of them in a game they controlled, and they can point to two self-inflicted defensive errors for the bittersweet tie after taking the first-half lead.
Paintsil, back in the starting 11, provided the spark.
After a Mark Delgado giveaway in midfield, Galaxy Winger Robert Taylor intercepted and drove forward on the right wing. He found a streaking Paintsil in the middle of the box, who outpaced LAFC Defender Sergi Palencia to put the ball away with a one-time shot to make it 1-0.
A heads-up play earned Paintsil his brace in the 51st minute. The Galaxy DP finished off Erik Thommy's shot after Hugo Lloris spilled the rebound, and Paintsil made no mistake in poking the ball home for his second goal of the night.
The speedy attacker has been short of his best this year, dealing with persistent hamstring injuries. But against LAFC, Painstil showed flashes of the player who lit up the league in the Galaxy's 2024 MLS Cup-winning season.
Vanney made sure to praise his performance after the winger scored his first and second goals in El Tráfico in six opportunities.
"Yeah, I mean, I felt like he was fantastic. His energy was great. He was, just, also his ability to carry the ball and spin out of things and move and create new situations on the attack is, you know, he got into the back post on both occasions instead of hanging wide. He really got into the front of the goal, which is, you know, something we talked about and was happy for him."
If the Galaxy are to make a playoff run, they will need this version of Painstil. An in-form Painstil will add a different level to an already improved attack as LA pushes to make the postseason. He also spoke to the gravity of the Galaxy's playoff situation with only two games remaining.
LA knows it has its playoff life in its own hands.
"This is a do-or-die situation for us. We have to win those two games. It's a must for us. We don't have any excuse. We have to give our heart and everything, you know, to to to just be in the playoff because when you are in the playoff, it's a whole it's a whole ball game, different."
The Galaxy will face Austin FC in their last home game on Halloween, and travel to Real Salt Lake on Decision Day, November 7th.
