Late goals keep Union-LAFC Concacaf Champions League semi-final wide open

Following Tigres 2-1 win over Leon in the all Liga MX Concacaf Champions League semi-final on Tuesday, last night it was the turn of the MLS sides (Philadelphia Union vs LAFC) to search for a place in the final. The first leg in what is a repeat of the 2022 MLS Cup final was held from Subaru Park in a game which fired into life in the final minutes.

Acosta, from villain to hero for LA

Just when it seemed that the game was heading for a 0-0 draw, despite both sides having created decent half-chances, the Union were awarded a spot kick after VAR intervened as it spotted LAFC defender Kellyn Acosta blocking a Union shot with his hand.

Hungarian midfield player Dániel Gazdag sent LAFC goalkeeper John McCarthy the wrong way in the 86th minute of the tie and just as the Union fans celebrated, Acosta made amends for his earlier error as he ghosted into the box in the 91st minute to steer the ball home to snatch a valuable away goal for the ‘black and gold’.

The goals from the first leg

Philadelphia Union

• 18 Andre Blake
• 15 Olivier Mbaizo
• 27 Kai Wagner
• 3 Jack Elliott
• 5 Jakob Glesnes
• 10 Daniel Gazdag
• 8 Jose Martinez (78')
• 16 Jack McGlynn
• 11 Bedoya
• 9 Julián Carranza
• 7 Mikkel Uhre (78')
• Substitutes
• 20 Jesús Bueno
• 17 Damion Lowe
• 25 Chris Donovan
• 31 Leon Flach (78')
• 26 Nathan Harriel
• 13 Holden Trent
• 34 Brandan Craig
• 6 Andrés Perea
• 33 Quinn Sullivan (78')
• 12 Joe Bendik
• 19 Joaquín Torres

Los Angeles FC

• 77 John McCarthy
• 33 Aaron Long
• 3 Jesús Murillo
• 24 Ryan Hollingshead
• 12 Diego Palacios
• 6 Ilie
• 20 José Cifuentes (78')
• 23 Kellyn Acosta
• 10 Vela (68')
• 22 Kwadwo Opoku (45')
• 99 Denis Bouanga
• Substitutes
• 32 Abraham Romero
• 7 Stipe Biuk (68')
• 17 Danny Crisostomo
• 11 Timothy Tillman (78')
• 18 Erik Duenas
• 14 Chiellini
• Mateusz Bogusz (45')
• 27 Nathan Ordaz
• 30 Palencia
• 2 Denil Maldonado

Substitutions

Mateusz Bogusz (45', Kwadwo Opoku), Stipe Biuk (68', Carlos Vela), Quinn Sullivan (78', Mikael Uhre), Leon Flach (78', José Martínez), Timothy Tillman (78', José Cifuentes)

Goals

1-0, 85': Daniel Gazdag, 1-1, 90': Kellyn Acosta

Cards

Referee: César Arturo Ramos Palazuelos
VAR Referee: Erick Yair Miranda Galindo, Guillermo Pacheco Larios
Jose Martinez (62',Yellow) Kellyn Acosta (83',Yellow)