Club América outlasts LAFC in 7-round shootout at SoFi Stadium
2 years ago
LAFC #LAFC
LAFC forward Brian Rodriguez (17) vies for the ball against a Club América defender during the first half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward Brian Rodriguez dribbles the ball against Club América midfielder Richard Sanchez during the first half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward Cristian Arango dribbles the ball in front of Club América defender Sebastian Caceres during the first half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward Kwadwo Opolu takes a shot on goal during the first half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward Kwadwo Opolu, center, kicks the ball as he tries to navigate through Club América defenders during the first half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC midfielder Sebastian Mendez dribbles the ball against Club América midfielder Iker Moreno during the first half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo looks on during the first half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. América won in a seven-round penalty shootout, 6-5. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC midfielder Latif Blessing takes a shot on goal as Club América goalkeeper Oscar Jimenez looks to deny him during the first half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward Cristian Arango, left, kicks the ball past Club América defender Sebastian Caceres during the first half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC defender Ryan Hollingshead, right, takes on Club América defender Bruno Valdez (18) during the first half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. América won in a seven-round penalty shootout, 6-5. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC defender Franco Escobar, right, is upended by Club América midfielder Richard Sanchez during the second half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward Carlos Vela kicks the ball up the field during the second half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC defender Diego Palacios looks to pass as Club América midfielder Sebastian Martinez defends during the second half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC defender Sebastian Ibeagha heads the ball during the second half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward Gareth Bale looks to pass during the second half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC midfielder Ilie Sanchez, front, fends off Club América midfielder Richard Sanchez during the second half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC defender Mamadou Fall moves the ball past Club América midfielder Pedro Aquino during the second half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC goalkeeper John McCarthy catches the ball during the second half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC fans cheer during the second half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC midfielder Jose Cifuentes (20) maneuvers through multiple Club América defenders during the second half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC defender Sebastian Ibeagha kicks the ball during the second half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC defender Jesus Murillo, right, heads the ball during the second half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC defender Giorgio Chiellini warms up on the sidelines during the second half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward Gareth Bale (11) kicks the ball during the second half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward Carlos Vela kicks the ball during the second half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward Gareth Bale kicks the ball during the second half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Club América fans release yellow smoke during the second half of their Leagues Cup Showcase match against LAFC on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC midfielder Jose Cifuentes takes the final penalty shootout attempt, which he missed over the crossbar, during their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Club América fans celebrate after their team defeated LAFC, 6-5, in a seven-round penalty shootout to win a Leagues Cup Showcase match on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward Carlos Vela, left, shares a moment with Club América goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, right, prior to their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward Gareth Bale walks on to the field prior to their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Soccer fans react to the camera at the end of a Leagues Cup Showcase match between LAFC and Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward Carlos Vela walks on the field prior to their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC and Club América starters line up in front of a cloud of yellow smoke prior to their Leagues Cup Showcase match on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC’s starting 11 pose for a portrait prior to their Leagues Cup Showcase match against Club América on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
INGLEWOOD — Before an announced crowd of 71,189 at SoFI Stadium, the first soccer event at Los Angeles’ host site for the 2026 FIFA World Cup drew a larger crowd than February’s Super Bowl.
Meeting on a grass field that was laid down especially for Wednesday night’s Leagues Cup Showcase – a pair of exhibition matches between the L.A. Galaxy and Chivas Guadalajara followed by the Los Angeles Football Club versus Club America – the Major League Soccer and Liga MX sides split.
After the Galaxy won the opening match, 2-0, America downed LAFC following a scoreless 90 minutes and seven rounds of penalties (6-5). The shootout ended when LAFC’s José Cifuente put his kick over the goal and up into the stands after America’s Emilio Lara converted his attempt.
Showcasing the quality of its MLS-points leading roster, LAFC began its match with three current MLS All-Stars (Carlos Vela, Diego Palacios and Ilie Sanchez) on the bench, joining Cifuentes, the club’s Player of the Month in July, as well as starting center back duo Jesus Murillo and Giorgio Chiellini, regular goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, and, for good measure, Gareth Bale.
Through the first 45 minutes, LAFC didn’t appear to miss its regulars as players itching for more time pushed up the field to create several dangerous chances led by Cristian Arango, Kwadwo Opoku and, in his first start since June 26, dynamic winger Brian Rodriguez.
Sebastian Mendez’s inclusion in the midfield and Mamadou Fall’s second appearance since the end of May added to LAFC’s defensive bite and helped them repel America despite the Mexican’s advantage in possession.
Fall was nearly sent off in the 42nd minute when referee Victor Rivas showed the talented 19-year-old Senagalese a red card after a leaping two-footed tackle. Following a video review, Rivas changed the infraction to a yellow card after determining that Fall made a play on the ball.
Scoreless at the half, LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo brought on Vela, Sanchez and reserve forward Caleb Jennings, who moved higher into the rotation following LAFC’s trade of Danny Musovski to Real Salt Lake on Wednesday for $250,000 in general allocation money.
America produced a quality 15 minutes after play resumed, but was denied by a pair of saves from McCarthy, making his first appearance since May 14, off chances by Roman Martinez.
Fall made a goal-line clearance to keep out Lara’s blistering shot from inside the box in the 51st minute.
Both sides executed multiple substitutions with 30 minutes left, and LAFC added Bale, Cifuentes, Murillo, Palacios and Franco Escobar.
Bale, who continues to build up his fitness since joining LAFC last month, took and coolly converted the fifth penalty shot during the shootout.
LAFC, on pace to win the Supporters’ Shield for the second time in its five seasons of existence, resumes league play on Saturday against Real Salt Lake in Utah.
