LAFC 2 vs 1 Toluca live online: stats, score, goals and highlights | Concacaf Champions Cup

It seemed as we were heading to Mexico with both teams sharing the spoils after the first leg, but LAFC had one more trick up their sleeve before the final whistle. A free kick was award to the home side right outside the area, and Son Heung-Min played a perfect ball right on to the head of Nkosi Tafari for the stoppage time winner to send LAFC into the second leg with the advantage. 

Toluca still have plenty of options, and it is all still to play for in the final 90 minutes of the semifinal tie. The second leg will be played at the Estadio Nemesio Diez next Wednesday. 

The LAFC opener woke up Toluca who for much of the match looked to be okay with a 0-0 draw, but once LAFC took the lead it was time to start opening things up on the other end of the pitch. Marcel Ruiz won the ball back in the middle of the park, worked it up to Paulinho and the leading scorer in the competition set up Jesus Angulo who laced a shot past Lloris for the equalizer in the 73rd minute. 

Everything changed in the second half as LAFC came out of the dressing room looking like a different side. They created two scoring chances before Tim Tillman tucked away the opener in the 50th minute to give the home side the lead. Jacob Shaffelburg would scored a second goal just minutes later but it would be wiped off the board after VAR decided that LAFC were offside. It didn't look to be Shaffelburg but instead Mark Delgado who didn't touch the ball but was deemed to have influenced the play from an offside position. 

LAFC needed stoppage time to pull out a dramatic win over Toluca in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup on Wednesday night. It was a goal from Nkosi Tafari that made the difference in the end, but the first half didn't paint a pretty picture for either of the clubs. 

The first half was lacking in goal scoring opportunities and really any sort of attacking ambition. Toluca seemed to be okay knocking the ball around the back and making LAFC chase. Tim Tillman had the best chance of the first half for the home side, off a long throw in but his shot off the half volley missed the target. Right before the half, it was Toluca with a chance to take the lead into the dressing room. Hugo Lloris came up with a fantastic double save on Castro and then on Jose Gallardo to send us into the break even at 0-0. 

IT'S ALL OVER!!!!

A late winner from Nkosi Tafari gives LAFC all the momentum heading into the second leg down in Mexico next week. 

Vega sent it in and Gallardo got a head to that ball, but sent it high on the flick on from the front post. 

Castro beat Shaffelburg with a fantastic bit of skill, and Toluca will have a free kick from a dangerous area on the final touch of the night. 

Nothing comes of the free kick and Toluca look to create one last chance in the final minute. 

Son just took a shot trying to play a one-two, and there will be another set piece to come. More of a chance to waste some time than a goal scoring chance but with the service from Son and Palencia you never know. 

Six minutes of extra time! Do we have time for any more dramatics?

What a chance of momentum for LAFC before the final whistle. The Toluca goal seemed to take the wind out of their sails, but this will give them all the hope in the world heading to Mexico. 

Shaffelburg taken down on the left side of the pitch and that will set up a juicy free kick as we head into the 90th. 

Diaz Prince in for Ruiz for the final few minutes of the 90. 

Son with a perfect pass to the end line for Shaffelburg who played it square for Ebobisse but del Villar was there to make the intervention that might have kept a goal off the board. 

Palencia with another great cross from the right side and he hit Ebobisse in the box but he couldn't wrap his body around the ball to put any real power on the shot. 

Shaffelburg with another great cross this time to the substitute Ebobisse who got a head to it but just sent that effort wide of the target. 

Shaffleburg with a head of steam down the left side but his cross into the middle is cut out and sent wide for a throw in. 

Toluca happy to just play for possession at the moment. They will look for their chances where they get them but they are happy with a 1-1 draw. 

Ten minutes to go in what's been an entertaining second half. 

Have a look at the play through the middle from Toluca. It starts with the ball being won in the middle of the park and ends with a brilliant pass from Paulinho who found Angulo. Angulo didn't need much room to operate from outside the area. 

Vega will come in to the match for Toluca and the goal scorer Angulo is coming out with just over 10 minutes to go. 

For Toluca this is a great result. Not so much for the home side who will have to go on the road and either win or score two goals in a draw to beat Toluca in the second leg's 90

Martinez was tripped up outside the area but play on said the referee and LAFC was almost caught sleeping on the counter after no whistle was blown. Porteous had to track back at full speed to keep Castro from running on the end of that long ball from the back. 

Can Toluca get Paulinho involved over the next 20 minutes? The top scorer in the competition has been silenced for the first 70 minutes. 

Romero with a half chance off the volley and he sent that well wide of target. 

First yellow card is shown to Porteous who seems livid with the call after finding out his name is going in the refs book. 

Corner for LAFC, and Martinez sent it in to a dangerous area but a foul was called on LA right in the heart of the box. 

Long throw in was flicked on by Porteous and bounced in a dangerous position but was cleared away by Toluca. 

Helinho taken out and Barbosa has been put in for Toluca in what looks to be an awfully defensive move from the Mexican side. 

Square ball played to Ruiz outside the area and he looked to take it on with one touch but sent that sailing high and wide of the target. 

How does this wake Toluca up now? They got away with one, now they know they have to bring it for the final half hour. 

Here is the goal that counted for LAFC. Just a few minutes after the halftime break, what ever was said in the dressing room really must have lit a fire under the team. They came out red hot and were unfortunate not to double their lead.

Let's see if that takes the wind out of the sails of the LAFC squad that came out of the halftime break swinging for the fences. 

THE GOAL HAS BEEN WAVED OFF!!! After a careful review either the ref saw Shaffelburg in an offside position or Delgado, who didn´t have a touch on the ball, but was deemed to have influenced the play from an offside position. 

The ref has signaled that they will take a look at the VAR, and see if Shaffelburg was indeed offside. 

This seems to be taking an awfully long time to check an offside call that is fairly straight forward. 

Bang, Bang. Just like that LAFC are up 2-0 after a silent first 45 minutes. They have come out of this dressing room like they have been fired out of a cannon. They are taking a look at the VAR replay, but it doesn't seem as though there is any indication of offside. 

Gallardo with a late challenge on Choiniere and that will draw a warning from the referee. 

Toluca looking a little shell shocked after a couple of quick opportunities. They need to chance things up as well, because they were lucky not to concede after getting opened up on the first two attacks of the second half. 

Fantastic cross from Palencia right on to the head of Tillman who had a brilliant chance but just missed the target. Two quick chances from LAFC in the first few minutes. 

LAFC already!!! Shaffelburg gets to the end line and lasers a ball through the area that was bobbled and gathered by Garcia with Son in the area. 

Let's hope we get a little more attacking minded play in this second 45. It should be evident in the first few minutes if either team will think about changing their tactics for the final half here from LA. 

WE ARE BACK IN LOS ANGELES FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!!!

This was quite literally the only scoring chance in the first half for either side. The ball in from Angulo was flicked on at the front post, found Castro point blank with Lloris who made a fantastic save and then Gallardo's rebound attempt was saved by Lloris. 

Not a whole lot for highlights between those two teams in the first 45 minutes. It took 20 minutes just to get a shot from one of the teams and 44 minutes to get a proper shot on goal. 

WE ARE HEADING TO THE HALFTIME BREAK FROM LA!!! 

Just the one chance and it came right before the halftime break from Toluca!

Just one minute of stoppage time in this first half!

Corner kick to come in the waning moments of the first half. It's Angulo who put a great ball into the front post and it got the flick it needed from Ruiz and Castro was there point blank with the header in front of goal, but Lloris stopped it and the rebound was stopped by Lloris as well! What a chance before half for Toluca!

Long throw in into the box for Son who tried to battle for position on Gallardo but he was whistled for a foul. 

Shot from an acute angle by Paulinho was never going to trouble Lloris, and the flag went up anyway. 

Angulo turns on a ball played down the middle and tried to find Paulinho with a through ball in the box but it was cut out by Nkosi Tafari. 

Son's long diagonal ball to the back post looking for Porteous skims off the defenders head and out for a goal kick. 

Tillman tripped up in the attacking third, and a late whistle is blown for a foul which won't please the Toluca players too much. Another chance to push bodies in the box. 

Son had a chance to break on the counter, made a sombrero move over a defender and looked to lead Martinez through but that pass got away from him and drifted towards the touchline before Toluca was able to take possession back. 

Helinho lulling defenders with some classy dribbling outside the box and sent a ball into the box that couldn't be handled by Angulo. 

While not much is materializing in the attacking thirds, you have to give it to the back lines for each club. Very well positioned, not allowing much in behind. Not exactly what we expected to see, but the purists will be liking this. 

Just starting to get the feel that things are opening up for both sides. Ten minutes to go in the half, and there might be a few more chances here and there before the halftime whistle. 

Castro found a bouncing ball in the midfield and took a touch before firing at goal but that was always rising for the Mexican midfielder. 

Gallard takes a touch towards the end line, and skips past a defender but his ball into the area was sniffed out by Nkosi Tafari. 

A long throw in from the right side came in dangerously and took two deflections before getting teed up for Tillman who had a clean look at goal but just missed the target on the back post. First real chance of the game, first real scare for Toluca. 

Martinez trying to use his pace to get in behind, but Del Villar cut that pass out intended for the winger in the box. 

Paulinho played into the box towards the end line and he ran on to the ball, looked up and tried to send it back to the spot but Long was there to cut out the danger with Angulo and Castro closing in. 

The whistles coming from the crown are probably some LA fans that thought they were going to show up to the stadium tonight and witness a show between two high octane sides, but this start has been anything but. 

First corner of the match coming for Toluca, and Angulo found Ruiz who tried to turn on that ball at the front post but it was out for a corner kick, and the second attempt is sent away as far as Garcia. 

Remember there is no Denis Bouanga for LAFC. He is suspended for this match after yellow card accumulation. 

Son ran on to a loose ball in the middle of the park and carried it to the right before lacing a shot across the face of goal that went wide. 

We have our first shot! It wasn't a good one or a dangerous one, but it was a shot from Ruiz who took a chance from outside the area that went rising over the cross bar. 

LAFC taking a chance to push up seemed to ignite Toluca into wanting to attack as well. Helinho tried to strike on the counter but his square pass across the box was intercepted. 

First real dangerous ball sent into the box from Martinez looking for Son on the diagonal but that was cut out by Del Villar before Son could take a peek up at goal. 

Tillman with a long ball from the back from Shaffelburg, but that pass skips into the box and is taken easily by Garcia. Not much but at least we are getting the keepers involved almost 20 minutes in. 

There is a long way to go, but a 0-0 draw would benefit LAFC who would just need to go down to Toluca and get a draw with a goal down in Mexico in the second leg. The away goal rule is still very much alive in this CCC. 

The weather has held up much better here tonight in LA then it did last night in Nashville when there was a weather delay due to a lightening storm that pushed kick off back an hour. 

LAFC starting to find their feet and string together a few passes after chasing for the majority of the first 10 minutes. 

We are coming up on the quarter of an hour mark and there has yet to be even one glance at either goal. 

We talk a lot about Paulinho, and for good reason but one of the dangermen for the Liga MX side that can't be ignored is Helinho. He played some perfect passes on the counter attack last round, and will be looking to set up Paulinho over the course of the next 180 minutes. 

Tillman almost got himself into a world of trouble with a pass back that went right to the feet of Paulinho but he was dispossessed as he tried to turn on goal. 

Some whistles are starting to be ring around the stadium here in LA at the cautious manner in which Toluca are taking to start this match. 

Will Ferrell was just spotted in the crowd here at BMO Stadium. He's a big soccer fan and a big LAFC fan. He wasn't going to miss this massive match up in his home town. 

It's a cautious start for Toluca in this first five minutes, which may come as a surprise considering the attacking talent they have up top. Mostly just playing it around the back and trying to stretch LAFC's defensive shape. 

Son went short, and square across for Choiniere who put a decent ball into the back post for Palencia but that was cleared away. 

Choiniere taken down by Castro and an early chance to push bodies into the box from a free kick around midfield. 

At the moment neither side seem to interested in launching their front three forward and pressuring the back line. Both teams just feeling each other out for the time being. 

These are two very attacking minded sides, but let's see how they come out and approach the first few minutes of this match. 

WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM LOS ANGELES!!!

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. 

CCC history: Toluca

It's been over two decades since los Diablos Rojos have won the Cup in this competition, but they are looking to get back to the finals for the first time since 2013. They won the fourth edition of this tournament back in 1968, but didn't hoist the trophy again until 2003. Since then they have been to two finals in 2006 and 2013/14, but came up empty. 

League form: LAFC 

Marc Dos Santos' side got back to their winning ways over the weekend after a couple of slip ups in the league. They advanced past Cruz Azul in the quarterfinals of the CCC but then lost 4-1 to the San Jose Earthquakes a few days after, and that was followed by a 0-0 draw with the Colorado Rapids. They got three points against Minnesota FC with a 1-0 victory, but the CCC might just be taking it’s toll in league play. They have won 6, drawn 2 and lost two and are sitting third in the Western Conference, seven points behind the San Jose Earthquakes. 

League form: Toluca 

Toluca finished the Apertura with the top spot in the league and won the playoff over Tigres UANL in December. They aren't out of the mix in the Clausura but they are six points back of league leaders UNAM Pumas. Pumas and Chivas are level with 36 points, while Toluca have 30 points on 8 wins 6 draws and 3 losses. They broke their six match winless slump over the weekend, with a 4-1 win over Club Leon. 

Star watch: Toluca 

While Toluca are a deep squad with a couple of players heading to the World Cup to play with Mexico this summer, there is only one player we need to keep an eye on tonight. Paulinho had a hat trick against the Galaxy in the first leg, and sealed the tie with a brace in the second leg. He scored against San Diego FC in the round of 16, for a total of 6 goals in the four matches that Toluca have played. Remember they had a first round bye, and that's the only reason that Paulinho doesn’t have more goals heading into the semis. 

Star watch: LAFC

There are plenty of stars on display for LAFC. Son Heung-Min is the biggest international star on the squad but Denis Bouanga is one of the fan favorites in LA with his flicks and tricks that dazzle in LaLa Land. No one has been better or more impactful that David Martinez who scored the game winner against Alajuelense and then had a brace in the opening leg against Cruz Azul. He has four total goals in the competition and his pace is sure to test the back line of Toluca that has yet to really have been tested.  

How they got here: Toluca

The Liga MX side got a bye in the first round of the CCC, which automatically planted them in the round of 16 in a match up with San Diego FC. After a 3-2 loss away from home they would have to rebound upon their arrival to Toluca and that's exactly what they did. The Red Devils unleashed on San Diego FC, beating them 4-0 and showing this competition exactly how dangerous they can be in front of goal. The quarter saw them play the LA Galaxy and they completely overmatched the MLS side with a 7-2 aggregate to sail into the semis. 

How they got here: LAFC

It hasn't been an easy ride for LAFC, although their results would certainly suggest otherwise. The beat up on Real Espana from Honduras, beating them comfortably with a 7-1 aggregate over two legs. Their round of 16 tie against Costa Rican side Alajuelense started with a 1-1 draw before returning to LA for the decisive final 90 minutes. David Martinez scored a 92nd minute goal to give LAFC the 2-1 win and a 3-2 aggregate was good enough to set up a quarterfinal with Cruz Azul. LAFC showed they are ready to battle the giants of the competition by downing the seven time champions. 

Toluca's last match 

After a 4-2 thriller in Toluca thanks to a Paulinho hat trick, the Red Devils went to LA looking to close early in the second leg, and that’s exactly what they did to the LA Galaxy. An early goal from Jesus Gallardo essentially ended it in the 10th minute, and then Paulinho added a couple more to his CCC tally in the second half to end the Galaxy’s run after scoring five goals over the 180 minutes. 

LAFC last match 

The Californians went into the second leg of the quarterfinal against Cruz Azul with a 3-0 lead after taking care of business at home in the opener. An early goal from Gabriel Fernandez showed that the Liga MX giants weren't going to go down without a fight. The 17th minute goal put a little pressure on LAFC, and that seemed to spark Cruz Azul into believing in a comeback. They peppered the goal of Hugo Lloris who had to make 9 saves to fend off a disastrous second leg and advance to the next round. With the tie in the balance Bouanga finished off the seven time champs from the penalty spot to book a ticket to the semis. 

We are live from LA 

Hello everyone and welcome to Los Angeles where LAFC host the opening of two legs looking to get a edge over the Liga MX side who come into this tie rolling. Both of these teams have been playing open, high octane soccer over the first three rounds, and you wouldn't expect anything to change over the next 180 minutes. Toluca come into this match on the heels of a dominant quarterfinal performance over cross town rivals the LA Galaxy, and now look to shell out the same sort of punishment to LAFC. 

LAFC vs. Toluca semifinal first leg 

The Concacaf Champions Cup is back under the spotlight tonight from Los Angeles. LAFC host Toluca in the opening leg of what promises to be a high flying, attacking semifinal tie. Toluca are looking to add to their trophy cabinet while LAFC hope to not just get back to the final, but win the Cup for the first time ever. Both teams can take a step towards their goal here tonight from BMO Stadium and AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of this opening leg from Southern California.