Tempers flare after Carlos Vela tackle: Is the Mexican injured for the second leg?
A feisty encounter between the Philadelphia Union and LAFC was kick-started with a contentious challenge on the Mexican forward.
Philadelphia Union hosted LAFC in the first leg of their Concacaf Champions League semi-final on Wednesday night. The all-American tie is a rematch of the thrilling 2022 MLS Cup final, which LAFC won on penalties after a 3-3 draw.
Ahead of Wednesday’s match LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington said that he was looking forward to another “great battle” against the Union.
The first leg finished 1-1 with late goals from both sides, but the game was played at a frenetic pace after a contentious moment in the first half involving LAFC and Mexico star Carlos Vela.
The 34-year-old slid in for a tackle with Union defender Jakob Glesnes and the pair appeared to clash shins in the challenge. Vela stayed down after the collision and tempers flared in the aftermath.
LAFC’s Diego Palacios and Union’s Olivier Mbaizo were at the centre of things and had to be pulled apart by teammates.
Is Carlos Vela injured for the second leg?
The second leg at the BMO Stadium, Los Angeles will be played next Tuesday, which is LAFC’s next fixture. This will give Vela the best part of a week to recover from the knock and all indications are that he will be fine to play.
Vela was able to continue playing after the tackle but was withdrawn with 20 minutes still to play after struggling to impact the game. However it is likely that his substitution was just an attempt to keep the LAFC captain fresh ahead of the second leg.
He has been used more sparingly in MLS this season and has only played a full 90 minutes once in nine matches.
Vela scored a brace in the Concacaf Champions League quarter-final win over Vancouver and LAFC may need some Mexican magic if they are to see off Union in the second leg.