LAFC Suffers First Loss as Historic Shutout Streak Ends

Manager Marc Dos Santos rested stars Son Heung-min and Hugo Lloris for upcoming Concacaf Champions Cup match

Apr. 12, 2026 at 12:21am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting an abstract soccer match, with the players' forms broken down into overlapping planes of vibrant colors like electric blue, fiery orange, and deep purple.LAFC's first loss of the season and the end of their historic shutout streak expose the challenges of balancing domestic and continental competitions.San Jose Today

LAFC's unbeaten start to the 2026 MLS season came to an end on Saturday as they fell 2-1 to the Portland Timbers. With manager Marc Dos Santos resting key veterans like Son Heung-min and Hugo Lloris ahead of a midweek Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal, LAFC's young stars like 17-year-old Jude Terry stepped up but couldn't prevent the loss. The defeat also ended LAFC's club-record shutout streak at 572 minutes, the fourth-longest in MLS history.

Why it matters

LAFC's unbeaten start had them atop the MLS standings and riding high, but the loss shows the challenges of balancing domestic and continental competitions. Resting top players like Son and Lloris for the Concacaf Champions Cup match against Cruz Azul cost them against Portland, raising questions about squad depth and rotation. The end of the historic shutout streak also highlights how difficult it is to maintain that level of defensive dominance in MLS.

The details

Without South Korean superstar Son Heung-min and World Cup-winning goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the lineup, LAFC fell 2-1 to the Portland Timbers. LAFC manager Marc Dos Santos rotated his squad, eyeing the upcoming Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal second leg against Cruz Azul. LAFC's third-choice goalkeeper, Cabral Carter, came on in the 30th minute after starter Thomas Hasal was injured, and promptly conceded the first goals of LAFC's season. Before that, LAFC had extended their club-record shutout streak to 572 minutes, the fourth-longest in MLS history.

  • LAFC's shutout streak reached 572 minutes before ending on April 11, 2026.
  • LAFC faces Cruz Azul in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal second leg on April 15, 2026.
  • LAFC returns to MLS action on April 19, 2026 against the San Jose Earthquakes.

The players

Marc Dos Santos

The manager of LAFC who rotated his squad to rest key players ahead of the Concacaf Champions Cup match.

Son Heung-min

The South Korean superstar who was rested by LAFC for the match against Portland.

Hugo Lloris

The World Cup-winning goalkeeper who was also rested by LAFC for the Portland match.

Thomas Hasal

LAFC's starting goalkeeper who was injured in the 30th minute of the match against Portland.

Jude Terry

The 17-year-old LAFC midfielder who scored a stunning goal in the loss to Portland, showcasing his potential.

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What they’re saying

“17-YEAR-OLD JUDE TERRY WITH A BANGER FOR @LAFC 💯💯💯”

— Major League Soccer

What’s next

LAFC faces the defending Concacaf Champions Cup champions, Cruz Azul, in the quarterfinal second leg on Tuesday, April 15, 2026, aiming to protect their 3-0 lead from the first leg. After that, they return to MLS action on Saturday, April 19, 2026 against the San Jose Earthquakes.

The takeaway

LAFC's first loss of the season and the end of their historic shutout streak highlight the challenges of balancing domestic and continental competitions. Resting key players like Son Heung-min and Hugo Lloris for the Concacaf Champions Cup match proved costly, but also provided opportunities for young talents like Jude Terry to shine. LAFC will need to carefully manage their squad as they pursue trophies on multiple fronts.