LAFC eliminates RSL from Leagues Cup with 4-0 loss in Chicho return

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Chicho Arango helped LAFC to the MLS Cup one year ago. He returned to Los Angeles for the first time since then Tuesday in an attempt to help his new club, Real Salt Lake, advance to the quarterfinals of the Leagues Cup.

The return for Arango started off pleasant enough, with LAFC presenting him with his past-due championship ring before the match and RSL holding LAFC to a 0-0 draw through 45 minutes.

But history took over in the second half, and LAFC secured its 13th victory, a 4-0 result, over RSL in 15 head-to-head matches since joining the league in 2018. RSL’s lone win in LA came in that inaugural year in the MLS Cup playoffs.

Arango’s replacement in LA, Denis Bouanga, proved deadly for the home team and scored in the 52nd and 56th minutes to quickly crush RSL’s hope after the first-half shutout. The second goal was especially painful as it came on a clumsy giveaway from Justen Glad in the RSL box.

“I think when you shoot yourself in the foot like that, it’s gonna be very difficult to win here,” head coach Pablo Mastroeni said. “I thought we played well in the first half and created some really good opportunities. And again, the game of football is about moments and capitalizing on those moments. We didn’t do that in the first half and they did do that in the second half.”

A goal in the 62nd minute from LAFC officially closed the door, and the reigning MLS champs nailed the door shut with a fourth goal in the 84th minute after Mastroeni had already waved the proverbial white flag by taking Arango and Jefferson Savarino off the pitch.

RSL was without key midfielder Pablo Ruiz for most of the match after he exited with an injury in the 12th minute. He was seen with crutches on the bench later in the match. The team awaits MRI results on Wednesday for an official diagnosis.

The Claret and Cobalt now have a short break following its elimination from the Leagues Cup. RSL returns to LA on Aug. 20 to face the Galaxy in MLS play.

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Caleb Turner covers Real Salt Lake as the team’s beat writer for KSL.com, in addition to his role where he oversees the sports team’s social media accounts.