Cruz Azul 0 vs 3 LAFC live online: stats, scores and highlights | CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals

I'm still not sure which goal of David Martinez is better, but in this one he certainly had more traffic all around him. Both were sensational finishes that were preceded by impressive runs, and his brace makes life a whole lot easier for LAFC who are heading to Mexico with a comfortable cushion in their pocket. They defended well the rest of the way and made sure not to give a bit of momentum to the defending champions with an away goal. That makes it 9 wins and 2 draws in 11 matches for LAFC in all competitions this season while scoring 27 goals and conceding just three. 

David Martinez had the game winner in the round of 16 against Alajuelense, and added to his tally in the CCC with this incredible run behind the defender. At full speed he was able to keep his cool and guide his shot past the Cruz Azul keeper to double the tally before the halftime break. 

Son barely had a touch of the ball before this goal, but just before he had his first intervention in the match, and just a few minutes later he was slotting the first goal of the game into the back of the net. A piercing ball from the back found Mathieu Choiniere who put in a gorgous ball to Son who knew how to finish in front of goal. 

LAFC ended the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals with a foot and a half in the next round after a dominant win over seven time champions Cruz Azul. David Martinez had a brace and Son Heung-Min added another one as the California side takes a 3-0 into the second leg from Mexico next week. 

You wouldn´t know it by looking at the scoresheet, but Cruz Azul came out the better side for the first 20 minutes. They were not able to create many chances in that time but they did create this chance from Gabriel Fernandez. It was a brilliant save by Hugo Lloris who kept another clean sheet in what has been a fantastic start to the season.

IT´S ALL OVER!!!

LAFC take care of business in the first leg, scoring three goals and heading to Mexico with a foot and a half in the semis. 

The Cruz Azul fans throwing some objects on to the pitch and at some of the LAFC players, and it's just getting a little hectic as we approach the final whistle. 

THREE MINUTES OF STOPPAGE TIME

Tillman looking for Son on the cross from the right side and that pass was in a dangerous area but Garcia took care of the danger. 

Choiniere coming off after a great shift and it's Terry, the 17 year old, to finish off the night. 

Romero with a long distance shot that skims across the grass and needed a save from Lloris which he made rather unbothered. 

Shaffelburg puts in a beautiful ball for Bouanga but that was just about dealt with by Meir. 

Bouanga won it back in the middle of the pitch and sent Son chasing with a great ball but the Koran just ran out of steam. 

A couple of subs from Cruz Azul: Levy for Paradela and Romero for Palavencino 

Paradela makes a move from outside of the area and laced it at goal but Lloris made another fantastic save to keep out the away goal from Cruz Azul. 

Paradela gets to the end line and sent it to the spot, but no one was there but Porteous to clear his lines. 

Really strong defending from the Californian side, and it almost led to a counter attack for Son, but it was stifled. Afterwards Lira was carded for chopping down Shaffelburg. 

LAFC much more concerned with defending at the moment, and for a team that has only allowed three goals in the previous 12 matches, I'd say they are plenty comfortable doing so. 

Little pushing and shoving as the Cruz Azul frustration starts to boil over. 

Corner was nodded out of the area, and a rebound from the left side by Ibanez was blocked and cleared away. 

Corner kick to come for Cruz Azul after a cross was sent over the end line. 

Cross into the area for Rodiarte but that header was always going to be tough to put on goal 

Martinez comes off the pitch with 2 goals to his name as Shaffelberg comes off the bench. 

Bouanga's cross into the middle of the area was just too far out in front of Son but LAFC continue to knock on the door. 

Ball in behind from Delgado to Martinez who wound up but missed the shot as he was running on to that ball that was trailing away from goal. 

With a 3-0 lead, LAFC don't have to push forward nor take too many risks. A 3-0 is good, a 4-0 would be great, but 3-1 would give Cruz Azul some hope going back home. 

Palavecino with a half chance from outside the area that takes a bounce and goes wide of goal without worrying Lloris. 

Rotondi in to the game and Ibanez as well as Marquez and Fernandez head to the bench. 

Palavecino carded for a bit of dissent to the ref after a foul called on Cruz Azul. 

Martinez took the ball at midfield, had three defenders around him, but he dribbled right through them all and tucked it home for his second of the night. 

Ball into the box for Cruz Azul as Paradela was in the area but it bounced up and around the top of the area before being cleared out of danger. 

Bouanga with a quick move at full speed at the top of the area and rips a surprise shot at goal that didn´t fool Meir. 

Son was played a perfect ball through the central defenders and he was into the box, but just lost it under his feet and forced a retreat. Great ball from Tillman. 

Garcia takes down Son and that's dangerous because he has a yellow already. No card shown, but he needs to be careful. 

Not a bad ball from the right corner flag, but an empty header popped up into the air and was taken by Lloris. 

Corner kick to come for Cruz Azul after a pass was deflected over the end line. 

LAFC look the lighter, and the quicker of the two teams coming out of the break. 

Bouanga running at a defender and it was Rodarte who shielded him off well and earned a goal kick. 

Rodriguez with a long cross from the right touchline and that is easily taken by Lloris who has only really had to make one save tonight. 

How do Cruz Azul approach the second half? They would love to get one back here in this next 45 to send it back to Mexico with everything to play for. 

WE ARE BACK IN LA FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!!!

Have a look and marvel at the pace of David Martinez. He was 1-v-1 with Campos and went past him like he was not even there. Then comes the finess to slot it home at full speed. It was a quarter of an hour of really good attacking soccer and it was enough to put the home side up 2-0 over the seven time champs. 

Three touches and into the back of the net. After LAFC started to find themselves right before the half hour mark, it was Son Heung-Min finishing off a lightening quick counter attack. Great pass from the back by Tillman, better pass from Choiniere, and Son knew exactly what to do with it in that position. 

For the first 15-20 minutes it was all Cruz Azul controlling possession and creating scoring chances. This was there best chance to put the opener on the board as Fernandez looked destined to beat Lloris with this header but the French keeper made a great sprawling save. 

WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST HALF FROM LOS ANGELES!!!

It was all Cruz Azul at first, but the home side came roaring back and go into the break in complete control of this first leg of the quarterfinals. 

Bouanga with a nutmeg along the end line and he laced it across goal, begging for a touch goalward, but it never came. 

Three minutes of stoppage time before we hit the halftime break. 

Bouangoa won it back in the middle of the park and turned on the jets before looking to check his run in the box, but was well marked by Garcia. Questions of a penalty were waved away by the man in the middle. 

Lovely dummy from Delgado and that led to a half chance to push up for LAFC. 

Excellent stuff from Bouanga in his own end, and Martinez just needed a little room to stretch his legs and get past the defender. LAFC taking control before the halftime break. 

Since the goal, it´s been all LAFC. Cruz Azul look a little shell shocked after being the better side for most of the first half hour. 

Son with a fantastic touch in the center circle and he was chopped down by Garcia who is shown a yellow card. 

It was a pass from the back from Tillman to a Choiniere who was in all kinds of space. He had a look up, took one touch into the middle and Son was there to slot it past Mier on a sliding shot with the outside of the right boot. 

Martinez sprays a low shot wide of goal from long range. The hero from the second leg of the round of 16 was looking to produce another wondergoal. 

Son with a couple of touches and he introduces himself into the game for the first time almost a half hour in. 

Segura whistled for a foul in the middle of the park, but gets into the face of the ref and was lucky not to get carded after the protest. 

After a little pressure from LAFC, Cruz Azul is just taking a little sting out of the match with a bit of passing from side to side. 

Corner kick was punched away by Meir, but LAFC seem to have a bit of momentum finally. 

One-two at the edge of the box between Tillman and Buoanga and that leads to a corner kick, but that was better from LAFC. 

Lay off for Palavecino and he sends the shot from outside the area into row K behind the goal of Lloris. 

This was the closest chance for either side 20 minutes in. It came from Fernandez and needed saving by Lloris. 

LAFC having trouble building from the back, or even stringing a couple passes when the ball is in their defensive third. Credit the Cruz Azul pressure. 

Marquez sized up a shot and hit Delgado square in the face, and that will hold up play for a moment. 

Finally LAFC get into the match, and the first test comes from Bouanga who took a shot out from outside the area, but it was easily taken by Meir who barely had to move. 

The ref got in the way of a ball from the back and that might have broken up a little push up the park from LAFC. The ball is restarted and LAFC will try and possess a bit. 

Another fantastic cross right on to the head of Fernandez who put much more power on this attempt and it needed a brilliant sprawling save from Lloris. 

For a side that has yet to lose any of their 10 games, and has a goal difference of 21 in all comps, LAFC has come out looking very tentative. 

Corner over the head of everyone in the area and sent away but Cruz Azul maintain possession. 

Not a bad ball into the area from Palavecino and it was eventually nodded out for a corner by LAFC. 

Foul on Herrera which gives Cruz Azul a nice chance to serve one into the box from the left side. 

Not many touches in the attacking half for LAFC as they have spent much of the first five minutes chasing. 

Paradela with the left foot from outside of the area and that was easily scooped up by Lloris. 

Opening chance was an easy one for Lloris as Fernandez nodded on a cross on frame but it was an easy early test for the French keeper. 

The seven time CCC Champions come out knocking the ball around looking to find their comfort zone in these early minutes of the match. 

WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM BMO STADIUM IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA!

This is La Maquina's starting XI for the opening leg of the quarterfinal in Los Angeles. 

CCC History: Cruz Azul 

Anyone who knows this tournament knows what a power house Cruz Azul are when they enter this competition. They have won the cup 7 times, which is tied for the most Concacaf Champions Cups in the history. Their first came in 1969, and they would go on to win three straight. Back to back titles in 1996 and 1997 would break a long spell with out a title, and they won their sixth back in 2014, and are now looking for a back to back bid once again after winning the Cup for the seventh time last year. 

CCC history: LAFC

This is just the fourth time that LAFC have been in this tournament, but every time they enter the CCC they make noise. They went to the final in their first appearance losing to Tigers UNAL in 2020. Their second CCC campaign came in 2023 and they were runners up again, losing 3-1 to Club Leon de Mexico. Last year was their third appearance in the CCC, and they went to the QF, where they are at this stage of the tournament. 

There are plenty of recognizable names in this XI for LA as they square off against one of the best clubs in the history of this compeition. 

League form: Cruz Azul 

After a third place finish in the Apertura, finishing just two points behind Toluca who ended up in first, Cruz Azul is sitting in 2nd through 13 match days. They have won 8 matches, drawn three and lost just two including their 2-1 loss to Pachuca over the weekend. They have picked up just two points in their last three matches in the league.

League form:  LAFC 

LAFC are still in the early stages of the MLS season, but so far so good for Marc Dos Santos's men. They have yet to lost a match, winning five and drawing one of their first six matches. They are currently at the top of the Western Conference with 16 points, and have the most points in the MLS, eclipsing Nashville in the East, with 13 points. They have scored 14 goals and have yet to allow a goal in league play. 

Star watch: Cruz Azul 

Cruz Azul have a handful of goal scorers live Augustin Palavecino who has 8 goals and 7 assists in the Liga MX, while Carlos Rodriguez has 7 and 5 assists. No one on this squad is more dangerous than Gabriel Fernandez who has 13 goals to lead the team, with six assists in the Liga MX. In the CCC, it's been Luka Romero who has led the way with 3 goals, all coming in the second leg against Vancouver FC. 

Star watch: LAFC 

Where would this LAFC side be without the goals of Denis Bouanga? The striker from Gabon has been the leader in the both the MLS and in the CCC. He has had hat tricks in both competitions, scoring one over the weekend in against Orlando and one against Real España. He´s got 4 goals in six matches in the MLS and four in four matches in the CCC. Bouanga is one of the most in form strikers on the continent and he is going to be one to watch out for tonight against Cruz Azul. 

Last match: Cruz Azul 

In Liga MX, Cruz Azul lost to Pachuca 1-2 at home, but before that they took on a Monterrey side in the round of 16. Their first leg away from home was the crucial result for Cruz Azul who won 2-3 away with two late goals from Pivot and Ibañez in the 84th and 90th minute. In the second leg, they found themselves fighting back from a one goal deficit after conceding in the 8th minute. Jose Paradela equalized in the first minute of the second half, and Cruz Azul were able to hang on to a draw  and secure their spot in the quarters. 

Last match: LAFC 

LAFC is coming off one of their most convincing wins of the year. This weekend they beat Orlando City 6-0 with a hat trick from Denis Bouanga, his second of the season. Before that, the black and gold had to get through a tough round of 16 match against Alajuelense following their 1-1 draw in LA. They had to go to Costa Rica and battle back from a 1-0 deficit with a goal from Santiago van der Putten in the 4th minute. LAFC equalized in the 51st minute with a goal from Nathan Ordaz and then Diego Martinez won it with a goal in the second minute of stoppage time. 

How they got here : Cruz Azul 

The CCC titans breezed past their first round opponents Vancouver FC with an eight goal thrashing of the Canadian side. They went north of the border and beat Vancouver 0-3 before returning home and rubbing salt on the wound with a 5-0 win at home. Things got tricky in the round of 16 against Liga MX side Monterrey. They needed a couple of late goals to get out of Monterrey with a 2-3 win on the road, and then hung on for a 1-1 draw that booked them their ticket to the quarters. 

How they got here : LAFC

LAFC started this tournament against Real España of Honduras in the first round. It was a two legged tie that didn't present too many problems for the California side. They went to Honduras and ripped Real España to bits with a 6-1 win while Denis Bouanga scored a hat trick to begin his CCC campaign. A round of 16 match up with Alajuelense was next up and after a 1-1 draw in LA, the black and gold took care of business with a 1-2 win in Costa Rica to advance them to the quarterfinals.

We are live from BMO Stadium  

Hello everyone and welcome to Los Angeles where LAFC continue their quest for a first CCC title in club history, but to do so they know they are going to have other take down the giants from Liga MX. Things in the league are going quite well for LAFC, but they needed a stoppage time winner to in the round of 16 to get to this stage of the tournament. Cruz Azul, meanwhile are no strangers to this tournament. Despite a not-so-hot start to the Clausura they will always be one of the favorites to win this Cup as long as they are alive. Tonight they travel to LA looking to take control of this tie before returning home next week.  

Cruz Azul vs. LAFC  

It's the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals, and it’s one of four matchups between MLS and Liga MX sides. One of the most successful Mexican clubs and the winningest team in this competition takes on the MLS early season leaders from Los Angeles as LAFC host Cruz Azul from BMO Stadium, an AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of this opening leg matchup.