Different name, same result for LAFC against the Philadelphia Union.
The Union made its return to Downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday night, returning to the scene of last November’s heartbreaking MLS Cup final. Back then, the stadium was name Banc of California Stadium, but even now as BMO Stadium, the result was all the same, much to LAFC’s liking. The only difference is that LAFC made it look very easy on Tuesday, as goals from Timothy Tillman, Kwadao Opoku and Denis Bouanga enabled LAFC to move on in the finals of the CONCACAF Champions League courtesy of the 3-0 result.
“We are ecstatic to be in the final of this competition,” LAFC Head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “It’s a competition that was highlighted on our calendar. So far, we have accomplished the goals we have set for ourselves and there’s one more to go. The atmosphere in the locker room is an obviously a happy one but also a focused one and hungry one. This team wants to win the final.”
The win gives MLS a representative in the CCL final for the second straight year, when the Seattle Sounders made history be becoming the first MLS side to win the CONCACAF Champions League. LAFC now awaits the winner of the semifinal winner of the matchup between Liga MX sides Tigres UNAL and Leon. Tigres currently leads 2-1 on aggregate with the second leg on Wednesday in Leon.
LAFC struck in the 13th minute. Carlos Vela sent a corner kick into the penalty area, Ilie Sanchez sent a perfect header right on target, keeper Andre Blake denied the shot, but left a loose ball inside the penalty area and Tillman swooped in and buried the rebound chance into the back net.
Things got better for LAFC in the second half when Olivier Mbazio picked up his second yellow card in the 59th minute, forcing Philadelphia to play with only 10 men the rest of the match. LAFC ultimately took advantage late in the half, doubling it’s lead in the 82nd minute, as Opoku passed to Vela, who then found Opoku inside the penalty area and Opoku blasted a left-footed volley past Blake into the back net. LAFC wrapped up the match in the 90th minute, as Jose Cifuentes sprung Bouanga inside the penalty area and Bouanga slotted the shot past Blake to secure LAFC’s spot in the CCL Final.
“We just knew we had to win at home,” Tillman said. “We had to find a way to win at home. I think that away goal was huge and they’re a very good team that has a very good system and style of play. They had a couple of chances so it was just a must win game for us.”
Until then, it’s back to MLS play for LAFC, and they will resume league play on Saturday when they travel up North to San Jose to face the Earthquakes.
