The goal for LAFC heading into the second leg of its CONCACAF quarterfinal matchup against the Vancouver Whitecaps was simple; no repeat performance of its last matchup against LD Alajuelense.
After winning the first leg comfortably in Costa Rica, LAFC allowed Alajuelense to put a scare in its hopes of advancement by scoring two goals in the second leg on its home turf before Carlos Vela rendered any thought of a comeback moot. This time however, Vela and LAFC were the aggressors from the start, as Vela scored two first half goals, Jose Cifuentes added a highlight goal in the second half, and LAFC eliminated the Whitecaps with another three goal victory, winning the series 6-0 on aggregate.
“We had that in the back of our minds, taking that game a little too lightly here at home,” LAFC defender Ryan Hollingshead said. “Thinking it was going to be easy and then you put yourself in a tough situation having to dig a bit out of a hole at home. So today, we came in today with a much different mindset, ready to put them away early.”
The win moves LAFC onto the semifinals, where they will await the winner of the Atlas-Philadelphia matchup. The Union currently lead on aggregate 1-0, but will face a tough tack of having to hold onto that lead going to Estadio Jalisco on Wednesday night.
LAFC dictated the temp right from the start. Denis Bouanga got the home side, though not by putting one in the back net as he had been doing lately, but rather setting up chance, as he was fouled by Ryan Raposo inside the penalty area and referee Juan Calderon awarded LAFC the penalty, which Vela converted in the eighth minute to open the scoring. Vela then added to LAFC’s lead in the 31st minute, as Ilie Sanchez sprung Vela forward into the penalty area, with Vela just managing to keep himself onside, Vela chested the ball down, then fired a one-timer that beat keeper Thomas Hasal into the back net.
“I was going to shoot with my right foot and when I moved my head, I saw two Whitecaps players coming so I thought if I shot with my right foot it was going to be blocked so I then decided to shoot with my left foot,” Cifuentes said.
Jose Cifuentes tripled the lead in spectacular fashion in the second half. Bouanga found Cifuentes on a pass back outside the penalty area, Cifuentes made a deke move to evade his defender, then sent a left-footed volley that initially hit off the near post, then the far post before eventually crossing the goal line and settling into the back net for LAFC’s third goal of the match that sealed matters.
Another big match awaits LAFC on Sunday, as they head down south to Carson for the first game of the 2023 edition of El Trafico against the LA Galaxy.
