LAFC 2, Cruz Azul 1 | 2020 Concacaf Champions League Match Recap

LAFC are through to the 2020 Concacaf Champions League semifinals, beating Cruz Azul 2-1 Wednesday night in a winner-takes-all quarterfinal matchup that resumed nine months after initially being scheduled for March.

The 2019 MLS Supporters’ Shield winners have 19-year-old Kwadwo Opoku to thank for keeping their CCL run going, with the Ghanaian forward scoring the game-winner in the 71st minute. He made it 2-1 with a scorching, left-footed volley into the bottom corner when a corner kick bounced to him on the edge of the 18-yard box.

While LAFC held a 15-7 shots advantage against their Liga MX foe, the clubs entered halftime knotted at 1-1 after trading first-half penalty kicks. Former Orlando City SC midfielder Yoshimar Yotun bagged a panenka in the 15th minute and then Carlos Vela slotted home in the 38th minute.

The Yotun PK came after Eddie Segura pushed Orbelin Pineda from behind on a breakaway, which arose following a Mark-Anthony Kaye turnover in midfield. As for Vela’s effort, the 2019 Landon Donovan MLS MVP was tripped up by Cruz Azul goalkeeper Sebastian Jurado after dragging his trailing leg on a dribble. 

Before the PKs, LAFC could have opened the scoring in the 9th minute when Diego Rossi rattled the crossbar. Kaye also had a golden chance in the 33rd minute, but was denied by an onrushing Jurado as LAFC’s center mid pulled the shot to his favored left foot.

Goals

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