LAFC defeats Tigres UNAL with Son Heung-Min in attendance

Twenty-four hours before a massive acquisition, LAFC had business to take care of on the field.

With South Korean superstar Son Heung-Min set to be officially introduced by LAFC as its headline summer signing on Wednesday, LAFC still had a major task to take of on the pitch on Tuesday night; defeat Tigres UNAL to better its chances of advancing in Leagues Cup.

That they did, but again, they didn’t make it easy on themselves. Unlike its two previous Leagues Cup matches however, LAFC did not need penalties to settle its match with Tigres, and David Martinez saw to that, as his strike in the second half enabled LAFC to top Tigres 2-1 at BOM Stadium.

Martinez’s second half goal was his second of the match, giving him a brace on the night. LAFC’s win enabled them to finally get over on Tigres, who they have come to know quite well over the years, having faced them in the final of the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League as well as the 2023 Campeones Cup. LAFC also ended phase one of the Leagues Cup tournament with six points, but whether those six points will be enough to advance them to the knockout stages of the tournament will come down to the results of Wednesday and Thursday’s matches.

 Tied at a goal apiece, LAFC regained the lead in the 64th minute. Artem Smolyakov maneuvered past Tigres’s Diego Lainez, then played a ball foward that sprung Martinez down the right side. Martinez guided the ball into the penalty area, fought off a last-minute challenge from Juan Jose Purata and slotted a ball past Nahuel Guzman, beating the Tigres keeper near post to vault LAFC back in front.

Juan Brunetta had two great chances to level back the match late in the second half. The best shot for Brunetta came in the 81st minute, as he one-timed a right-footed volley from about 26 yards out, only to see the ball bounce off the crossbar. Brunetta’s second chance, which came seen minutes later, was a little more on target and almost from the same spot, only this time, it was with his left foot. LAFC keeper Thomas Hasal however didn’t flinch, and parried the ball away from goal to preserve the LAFC lead.

LAFC jumped ahead in the first half. Martinez sprung Timothy Tillman down the right side in the 35th minute, Tillman got inside the penalty area, slowed down to make a cutting move, Tigres’ Fernando Gorrian rushed in for some last-minute defending, but bumped Tillman to the ground, and referee Said Martinez blew his whistle and signaled LAFC to the penalty spot. Three minutes later, after some furious protesting on Tigres’ part, Martinez got LAFC on the board, as he sent the penalty to his left while Guzman guessed wrong.

LAFC took the lead into the half, but Tigres quickly found an equalizer. It came just two minutes  into the second half on a set piece, as Brunetta curled a free kick into the penalty area, and Edgar Lopez’s header beat Hasal near post to tie the match.