It was a great start for LAFC.
Hosting Monterrey at the Rose Bowl in the quarterfinals of Leagues Cup. LAFC started out great, getting a goal from Denis Bouanga from the penalty spot just a minute into the game, then making it a two-goal lead off the right foot of Mateusz Bogush. The second half however was a completely different story, as Monterrey came back with three unanswered goals, and Monterrey stunned LAFC with the 3-2 result.
“Look we’re disappointed we are not advancing in this tournament,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “I think my message to the players as well was look you have to congratulate Monterrey for putting in an effort tonight that was excellent. They pushed and pushed and pushed to try to get goals and to try to advance.”
The result eliminates LAFC from the tournament, while Monterrey moves on the semifinals. Monterrey will next travel to Tennessee to face Nashville SC, with the winner advancing to the final on August 19 against the winner of the Inter Miami-Philadelphia Union matchup, and the loser going to the third-place match, which will also be on August. Monterrey is also the last remaining Liga Mx squad in League Cup.
“It’s been a while since I’ve felt a match this passionate,” Monterrey head coach Fernando Ortiz said. “I have a tremendous team and they understood that since minute zero. For the 90 minutes it was a team that just wanted to win the game. Sometimes this happens in soccer where things don’t go your way but we kept playing with our ideas and push. It’s beautiful.”
It took LAFC just 15 seconds to get an opportunity to strike first. Bouanga received a ball from Ryan Hollingshead, Bouanga took the ball into the penalty area, Stefan Medina tried went to ground to try to contest, but ended up clipping Bouanga from behind and referee Héctor Said Martínez did not hesitate in signaling LAFC to the penalty spot. Bouanga stepped up and delivered, sending the shot to the right while keeper Esteban Andrada went the other way, and just like that, LAFC was up early in the match. LAFC then doubled its lead late in the half. Bogush led an LAFC counter, played a ball to Bouanga, who then took the ball into the penalty area, played a ball back to Bogush, who then took a couple of touches before firing a right-footed volley that sailed past Andrada and into the upper right net.
Monterrey however caught a huge break starting in the 62nd minute. Following a corner, Ali Avila managed to beat Kelly Acosta to a 50-50 ball, though Avila paid for that effort, as he took a cleat near the chest area, but that moment would turn out to be a lifeline for Monterrey, as Said Martinez got the call from VAR referee from Ismael Cornejo to take a look at Acosta’s challenge, which confirmed Acosta’s foul, and Said Martinez awarded the penalty. Sergio Canales stepped up and buried the penalty, which cut LAFC’s lead to a goal.
Smelling blood, Monterrey pressed on and eventually took control in the last 10 minutes. Monterrey finally caught LAFC in the 80th minute, as they had a corner kick, Canales sent the corner into the penalty area, Hector Moreno headed a ball to the back post, Victor Guzman fired a ball that deflected off Shane Palencia and crossed the goal line for an LAFC own goal that suddenly tied the match at two goals apiece. Monterrey completed its stunning comeback in the 88th minute, as Jordi Cortizo dribbled the ball outside and around the penalty area, then fired a volley from about 25 yards out, McCarthy stopped the shot with his right hand, but left a rebound inside the penalty area and Rogelio Funes Mori beat Palencia to the ball and snuck in a shot past McCarthy far post from a tight angle to give Monterrey the lead, a lead that eventually held up.
“The most important thing lies ahead, there are still games left, to recover this week, to do things well, to keep working on what failed us today and face these eleven games plus playoffs, to move forward with a better mentality and forget about this loss,” LAFC’s Mario Gonzalez said. “It’s a shame because we imagined doing great things, but hey, it wasn’t meant to be and now we give what’s left.”
LAFC resumes MLS play next Sunday, as they host the Colorado Rapids.
