Tafari header lifts LAFC over Toluca in CCC first leg

The opening match of LAFC’s CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal matchup with Toluca had just about everything one could ask for.

There were clutch goals, clutch saves, VAR controversy and late-match drama to boot. on Wednesday night. Fortunately for LAFC, then forced themselves onto the positive end of the drama, and it was Nkosi Tafari that played the role of hero for LAFC, as his goal in stoppage time vaulted LAFC, even without Denis Bouanga, to a first leg 2-1 win at BMO Stadium.

“Everyone wants to win with a bigger margin, but I think that the important thing was to win,” LAFC head coach Marc Dos Santos said. “The important thing was to get an advantage before going there (Toluca).”

Tafari’s winner followed an early second half goal from Timothy Tillman, and those two goals will allow LAFC to take the lead into next week’s second leg at Nemesio Diez Stadium. The odds though still look to favor Toluca, as aside from needing to overcome just a one-goal deficit will have the benefit of having score an away goal off the foot Jesús Ricardo Angulo.

Tied at one heading towards stoppage time and facing the prospect of having to try and hold off a Toluca side on its home field on an equal footing, LAFC was gifted one last chance to head into the second leg on the front foot. Jacob Shaffelburg was fouled by Diego Barbosa deep in Toluca’s side of the field on the left side, Son-Heung Min sent the free kick onto the penalty area and Tafari headed the ball inside the six-yard box past keeper Luis Garcia into the back net to put LAFC back in front. There was a bit of trepidation among the LAFC faithful when referee Ismael Cornejo went to VAR, especially considering back in the 54th minute, VAR had called back a goal by Shaffelburg on a rather controversial offside call, much to the chagrin of  LAFC. This time however, Tafari’s goal stood, and LAFC closed out the match.

“I knew I was onside, I was certain about it,” Tafari said.

After a scoreless 51 minutes, LAFC vaulted in front in the 51st minute. Tillman sprung Shane Palencia down the right side, Palencia crossed for the penalty area, the ball was deflected, but fell to the feet of Son, who touched a ball to Tillman, who then chested the ball down, then fired a right-footed shot just inside the 18 and the shot beat Garcia far post.

Controversy soon followed, and it came on Shaffelburg’s aforementioned goal. Shane Palencia received a ball from David Martinez, Palencia then crossed into the six-yard box and Shaffelburg swooped in from the left and buried the shot far post to seemingly double the LAFC lead. However, Cornejo soon go the call from VAR to take a second look, with the focus seemingly on the position of Mark Delgado, who was in the center lane. While Delgado appeared to be in an onside position when Palencia sent in the cross, Cornejo determined otherwise, and waived off the goal due to offside.

“The 2-0 goal is a clear goal” Dos Santos said. “Who drew that line? It’s embarrasing, it’s a scandal.”

Toluca eventually capitalized in the 73rd minute. Marcel Ruiz sent a forward ball to Paulinho Dias, who then played his own forward ball to Angulo and he touched himself into a shooting position, then fired a right-footed shot that beat keeper Hugo Lloris far post to level the match.

While the match was scoreless in the first half, Toluca came dangerously close to a goal close to halftime. Dias sent a corner kick into the penalty area, Ruiz headed a ball into the six to Nicolas Castro, who then headed a point-blank shot right at goal, but Lloris didn’t flinch, and sent the ball back and Tafari sent the ball over the end line.

“We could have been a bit more aggressive,” Tafari said. “The first half was a bit not poor, but we could’ve done better as a team, we being the home team.”

Before heading back to Mexico next week, LAFC will make a stop to San Diego to face SDFC on Saturday.