Vancouver Whitecaps 2-2 Los Angeles FC (aet, 4-3 pens): Nine-man hosts advance as Son misses in shoot-out

The nine men of the Vancouver Whitecaps advanced to the Western Conference Finals with a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Los Angeles FC, following a 2-2 draw at BC Place.

In front of a club-record crowd of 53,957, the hosts played much of extra time down two players following Tristan Blackmon's red card and an injury to Belal Halbouni, which occurred after they had used all their substitutions.

But Son Heung-min, who had scored twice in the second half, joined Mark Delgado in missing the shoot-out, allowing Mathias Laborda to net the winning kick.

Vancouver were utterly dominant in the first half, with LAFC not attempting a single shot, and they went into the interval with a 2-0 lead.

Emmanuel Sabbi applied a clever finish after being picked out by a searching ball over the top from goalkeeper Yohei Takoaka, then Laborda turned home from a tight angle when Hugo Lloris parried Thomas Muller's header in first-half stoppage time.

But LAFC improved massively in the second half, with Son scrambling the ball home at the third time of asking to make it 2-1 on the hour. 

Blackmon was shown his second yellow card in the second minute of stoppage time for bringing down Denis Bouanga, and Son curled the resulting free-kick into the top-left corner to provoke wild celebrations from the visitors.

The Whitecaps then lost Halbouni to an injury in the second additional period and had to ride their luck with nine men, as David Martinez and Bouanga combined to hit the woodwork three times in a matter of seconds late on.

Son took the first penalty in the shoot-out but clipped the right post, while Delgado fired over the crossbar. Edier Ocampo missed Vancouver's first chance to win it, but Laborda made no such mistake as they triumphed 4-3.

Data Debrief: Missed chances cost LAFC

This was the Whitecaps' third appearance in the Conference Semifinals, but they had never previously progressed beyond that stage. Now, they will face either San Diego FC or Minnesota United for a place in the MLS Cup final.

The Caps had to soak up plenty of pressure, with LAFC registering 34 shots to their nine and winning the expected goals (xG) battle by 3.38 to 1.28.

But Takaoka made five saves to go with his tremendous assist, and LAFC struck the woodwork on three occasions for the second time this season – also versus Sporting Kansas City in June – as their season ended in heartbreak.