LAFC advances to the Concacaf Champions League semi-final as they defeat Cruz Azul 2-1.
Cruz Azul closed a disastrous 2020 with another elimination after losing 2-1 to LAFC in the Quarterfinals of the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League.
The game started even, however the first clear opportunity was for LAFC. Early in the match a shot broke the post from Diego Rossi, but just four minutes later Orbelín Pineda was clearly knocked down inside the area for a penalty. Yoshimar Yotún was the man in charge of the shot and with a “Panenka” put Cruz Azul in front.
At the 23rd minute Elías Hernández took a dangerous shot but did not due damage to LAFC’s goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer’s goal, soon after that Los Angeles began to fully control the game.
In the 33rd minute, Mark-Anthony Kaye failed in front of the goal after a great pass from Carlos Vela. Only three minutes later a dive from Vela was marked as a penalty that allowed the striker to give the tie to LAFC, thus ending the first period.
For the second half LAFC dominated, Diego Rossi took a shot in the 52nd minute that Sebastian Jurado stopped. The attacking LAFC style paid off when 19 year old Kwadwo Opoku one of their new and youngest prospects from Ghana, put Los Angeles ahead with a blazing shot just outside the box that Jurado was unable to stop. Giving the black and gold the late 2-1 lead, and with the scoreboard against Los Cementeros they turned on to the attack, but the tie did not come.
Thus, LAFC advanced to the semifinals and will be facing America next Saturday, while Cruz Azul was eliminated from the competition. Cruz Azul 1-2 LAFC.
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