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Don’t blame LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo for being a little excited.
As a player and coach, Cherundolo has played in World Cups, played against some of the best competition in Europe during his career in Germany, and as a coach, has won an MLS Cup, a Supporters Shield and a US Open Cup. But what happened on Saturday night, having to rally past Liga Mx powerhouse Club America in extra time to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup, and doing so in an environment, that despite the match being played in its home stadium, was flooded with Yellow-Clad fans rooting for Aguilas, will go down as perhaps the most satisfying yet not just for Cherundolo, but also for LAFC. Denis Bouanga was the catalyst for the Black and Gold, first by assisting on the tying goal, then scoring the winning goal, as LAFC came from behind to defeat America at BMO Stadium 2-1.
“It was personally very gratifying,” LAFC head coach Steven Cherundolo said. “I couldn’t be prouder of the team, (and) the preparation for this match this week was amazing.”
The win now means LAFC get to test itself against some of the world’s best starting June 16. LAFC in placed in Group D with Premier League power Chelsea, Brazil’s Flamengo and Tunisia’s Esperance de Tunis. LAFC will be tested right off the bat, as its first opponent of the Club World Cup is against Chelsea on June 16 in Atlanta.
Trailing by a goal and with only seven minutes of stoppage time remaining to salvage its chances of heading to the Club World Cup, LAFC had one more chance, a corner kick in the 89th minute, and made the most of it. Bouanga sent the corner into the six-yard box and Igor Jesus headed a ball to the back post and the ball somehow got past Luis Malagon and Álvaro Fidalgo, who was guarding the goal line, and into the back net to level the match.
Late-minute heroics were again in store for LAFC in extra time, though this time, a little but earlier. It was the 115th minute of stoppage time, LAFC was deep inside America’s side of the field, Bouanga played a ball to Frankie Amaya, who quickly found Giroud just outside the penalty area on a short pass, Giroud teed a ball for Bouanga, and he blasted a rare right-footed shot that deflected off America’s Miguel Vasquez, and the deflection threw off Malagon, thus allowing the ball to find the back net to send LAFC into a frenzy.
“Denny is a competitor, loves to win, loves to compete, thrives on duels, thrives on moments that he creates, but is also a team player,” Cherundolo said of Bouanga. “He’s just as happy when we win games and others score, but he’s so talented and he’s so dangerous, we obviously try to get him a little more involved than other players.”
After a scoreless 59 minutes, Club America got the break it needed in the 60th minute. Kevin Alvarez crossed into the penalty area, Aaron Long headed a ball the other way, but Erick Sanchez kept the ball inside the 18-yard box and wound up to shoot. LAFC’s Marky Delgado stretched out his studs to block the shot, but also clipped Sanchez in the process. However, much to America’s chagrin, referee Wilton Sampaio signaled no penalty, instead giving America a corner kick. However, Sampaio soon got the call for Video Review, and it confirmed Delgado’s foul on Alvarez inside the box, and Sampaio awarded America the penalty. Adding insult to injury, it was Brian Rodriguez, the Uruguayan forward who spent two-and-half seasons with LAFC, stepped up to the penalty spot and succeeded, sending the penalty to his right as keeper Hugo Lloris guessed wrong, and America was in the lead.
