Carlos Vela’s LAFC reaches second Concacaf Champions League final

One of the best projects that MLS has for the future is Carlos Vela’s LAFC, who have already won the first domestic title in the franchise’s history and have all its focus on the first international championship, after they confirmed their ticket to the final of the 2023 Concacaf Champions League by eliminating the Philadelphia Union at the BMO Stadium.

Vela has LAFC sails full

In a tie that seemed to be complicated by Daniel Gazdag’s late penalty strike in the first leg, which would have meant a disadvantage for the return, the picture was changed with an injury-time leveller from Kellyn Acosta at Subaru Park. That set up a party at home.

The first to appear was Timothy Tillman, who, responding to the confidence of Steve Cherundolo, scoring in the 13th minute, after a corner kick from Carlos Vela was met by Ilie Sánchez whose effort was saved by Andre Blake and then knocked home by the number 11.

Despite this early goal, the first half wasn’t plain sailing for LAFC, and we headed to the break with just that single goal.

The second half wasn’t long in when Olivier Mbaizo was sent off after two yellows. That set up a glorious finish for the home side with Vela again involved setting up Kwadwo Opoku to strike powerfully inside the final ten minutes and then, with just a minute to go, Denis Bouanga put another nail in Philadelphia’s coffin.

Now LAFC await wither Club León or Tigres UANL.

Los Angeles FC

• 77 John McCarthy
• 33 Aaron Long
• 24 Ryan Hollingshead
• 3 Jesús Murillo (45')
• 12 Diego Palacios
• 23 Kellyn Acosta
• 6 Ilie
• 11 Timothy Tillman (65')
• 10 Vela (86')
• 99 Denis Bouanga
• 19 Mateusz Bogusz (65')
• Substitutes
• 22 Kwadwo Opoku (65')
• 20 José Cifuentes (65')
• 18 Erik Duenas
• 2 Denil Maldonado (45')
• 7 Stipe Biuk (86')
• 32 Abraham Romero
• 17 Danny Crisostomo
• 30 Palencia

Philadelphia Union

• 18 Andre Blake
• 27 Kai Wagner
• 5 Jakob Glesnes
• 15 Olivier Mbaizo
• 3 Jack Elliott
• 31 Leon Flach
• 16 Jack McGlynn (76')
• 10 Daniel Gazdag
• 11 Bedoya
• 7 Mikkel Uhre (60')
• 9 Julián Carranza (87')
• Substitutes
• 17 Damion Lowe
• 20 Jesús Bueno
• 26 Nathan Harriel (60')
• 12 Joe Bendik
• 6 Andrés Perea
• 13 Holden Trent
• 19 Joaquín Torres (87')
• 25 Chris Donovan
• 33 Quinn Sullivan (76')
• 2 Matthew Real

Substitutions

Denil Maldonado (45', Jesús Murillo), Nathan Harriel (60', Mikael Uhre), Kwadwo Opoku (65', Mateusz Bogusz), José Cifuentes (65', Timothy Tillman), Quinn Sullivan (76', Jack McGlynn), Stipe Biuk (86', Carlos Vela), Joaquín Torres (87', Julián Carranza)

Goals

1-0, 12': Timothy Tillman, 2-0, 81': Kwadwo Opoku, 3-0, 89': Denis Bouanga

Cards

Referee: Drew Fischer
VAR Referee: Fernando Guerrero Ramírez, Jorge Antonio Pérez Durán
Bedoya (1',Yellow) Denis Bouanga (16',Yellow) Mikkel Uhre (36',Yellow) Olivier Mbaizo (40',Yellow) Jesús Murillo (42',Yellow) Olivier Mbaizo (58',Red)