Los Angeles FC's promising start to the MLS season has unraveled in spectacular fashion. After a dominant 3-0 win over Inter Miami early on, the team was widely seen as a top contender for the MLS Cup. But following matchday 14, the harsh reality is that LAFC has slipped to 10th place in the overall standings, stuck in a run of three straight league losses and four defeats across all competitions.
The Breaking Point: A Continental Nightmare in Toluca
The cracks first appeared during LAFC's run in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Manager Marc Dos Santos's tactical setup began to show structural weaknesses, and the definitive turning point came in the second leg of the semifinals against Mexico's Toluca. LAFC suffered a shocking 0-4 defeat, a result that completely derailed the team's momentum. Since that elimination, the squad has lost its tactical identity, falling to the Houston Dynamo (1-4), St. Louis CITY SC (1-2), and Nashville SC (2-3). That slide has pushed them down to seventh in the Western Conference.
For South Korean star Son Heung-min, this is uncharted territory. Since his high-profile move to the United States, he had never experienced a three-match losing streak. In recent games, he has even finished matches without registering a single shot on target. The debate around his declining output escalated after his attacking partner, Denis Bouanga, made pointed post-match remarks. The Gabonese international said, “We are playing differently than last year; I am playing much deeper than Son and while I try to find him every time I get the ball, it’s not easy.”
Bouanga quickly took to social media to clarify that his comments were not a direct attack on the coaching staff, but the damage was done. Fans have flooded digital channels with frustration, calling Dos Santos's use of the Son-Bouanga partnership—once regarded as the most lethal duo in the league—“completely incomprehensible.” With playoff seeding now in jeopardy, the LAFC front office faces immense pressure to turn things around before the season spirals further.
As the team prepares for its next match, all eyes will be on whether Dos Santos can adjust his tactics and restore confidence. For a club that started the season with such high hopes, the current crisis is a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in MLS. For more on the team's recent struggles, check out our coverage of LAFC's loss to Nashville SC and Son Heung-min's goal drought.
Meanwhile, the broader Los Angeles sports scene is buzzing with other stories. The World Cup 2026 is coming to SoFi Stadium, and the city is also dealing with a measles alert at LAX. But for now, LAFC's slide is the talk of the town.
