Photos courtesy of LAFC.
Carlos Vela, center, was the catalyst in LAFC’s win over Cruz Azul in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League.
A trophy may still be in the offering in 2020 for LAFC.
Playing its first competitive match in three weeks, LAFC was thrown into the fire right away. Resuming the CONCACAF Champions League knockout rounds that had been postponed back in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, LAFC finally got to have its quarterfinal matchup with Cruz Azul albeit in a different setting.
Despite the long break separating them and its last competitive match, LAFC managed to summon the energy to deliver another shocker in this tournament. Goals from Carlos Vela and Kwadwo Opoku allowed LAFC to erase a one-goal deficit pull off another upset of a Liga MX team, as they eliminated Cruz Azul with a 2-1 win in Orlando’s Exploria Stadium.
LAFC’s comeback win, while not nearly as dramatic as its comeback win over Leon in the quarterfinals, when it scored three goals in the second leg to overcome a two-goal deficit and win what was then a two-leg series, still marks an amazing achievement for a team shaking off the aforementioned rust while also ensuring an MLS team makes the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League for a fourth straight year. LAFC will have its hands full in the semi’s, as they face perennial Liga MX powerhouse Club America.
With the pandemic still making any sort of travel risky, CONCACAF made the decision to resume the tournament in Orlando. The news was surely welcomed by LAFC, as they along with the rest of MLS had played in the city during the Summer in the MLS is Back tournament, though they had not played at Exploria Stadium. Also, since LAFC and Cruz Azul had yet to begin their two-leg series when the tournament was postponed, that combined with the neutral site location made it an easy decision for CONCACAF to make the LAFC-Cruz Azul matchup a single-elimination matchup.
Cruz Azul was gifted an opportunity in the 14th minute. Mark-Anthony Kaye made an uncharacteristic mistake, playing a ball back, but right to Orbelin Pineda, and with nobody but the keeper in front of him, broke for goal. Eddie Segura chased Pineda from behind and Jesus David Murillo coming in for a last minute challenge as did Keeper Kenneth Vermeer off his line. Segura nudged Pineda from his right, causing Pineda to go to the ground, which was apparently enough for Referee Said Martinez to whistle for the penalty spot. Yoshimar Yotun stepped up to the spot for Cruz Azul and sent a chip shot right down the middle as Vermeer guessed to his right.
LAFC however got a penalty chance of their own later in the half under similar circumstances. It started in the 36th minute, as Jose Cifuentes headed a ball forward, Cruz Azul’s Pablo Aguilar headed a ball, but went forward for LAFC, which allowed Vela to slip past his marker, defender Luis Romo, and chase the ball into the penalty area. Vela took a touch as Cruz Azul Keeper Sebastian Jurado came off his line, Jurado clipped Vela from behind and Martinez gave the signal for the penalty, which Vela converted in the 38th minute to even the match.
Then came the winner for LAFC in the 71st minute. Vela sent a corner into the penalty area, Segura’s header managed to keep the ball inside the box and Opoku blasted a left-footed volley that was on target, as the shot beat Jurado far post to vault LAFC into a lead they never surrendered.
