LAFC defeats Queretaro on penalties, awaits Leagues Cup fate

Photo courtesy of LAFC

The scenario was rather simple for LAFC heading into its final preliminary match of the Leagues Cup tournament for LAFC, win to give yourself a shot at advancing to the knockout stages.

There was a little complexion to that scenario, but LAFC knew that it had to simply put themselves in position to advance by winning against Queretaro on Wednesday night, whether in regulation or a shootout. Queretaro made them work for it on the pitch though as Ali Avila gave the visitors the early lead, but LAFC responded with a second half strike from Denis Bouanga, and LAFC eventually pulled out the win in a penalty shootout by a score of 5-3 at BMO Stadium.

Now comes the complicated stuff. A win in regulation would’ve given LAFC all three points in the match, which would’ve put them at eight points, which would’ve secured LAFC’s spot in the knockout stages. Instead, the two points earned by winning in a shootout puts LAFC in the top four at third place in the MLS standings, but they must now wait out Thursday’s results to see if they will stay in the tournament. The two matches that will certainly be of interest to LAFC is Chicago Fire vs. Cruz Azul and Austin FC vs. Club America. Both Chicago and Austin are a point behind LAFC, but both sides have the advantage over LAFC on goal differential, meaning all Chicago and Austin have to do is get their respective matches to a shootout to overtake LAFC in the standings. Fortunately for LAFC, Club America and Cruz Azul also need to win to have a chance to advance, meaning results could still go LAFC’s way.

Queretaro was the better side in the first half. Queretaro surprised LAFC in the 12th minute, as Bayron Duarte fired a left-footed volley from about 30 yards out, LAFC keeper Hugo Lloris dove to his right to stop the shot, but good fortune went Queretaro’s way on the rebound, as the the ball fell to Avila, and with Lloris already out of position on his save attempt, Avila headed a ball just outside the six yard box into the back net to give Queretaro the early lead.

Queretaro actually had a chance at at second goal in the 27th minute, as Duarte fired another right-footed long-range volley at goal, but this time, Lloris left no rebound to chance, as he saved the ball out of the penalty area entirely.

LAFC however turned the tables around in the second half. Head coach Marc Dos Santos did not waste any time, subbing in David Martinez and Timothy Tillman at the start, and the moves paid off for LAFC, as they found the equalizer in the 57th minute. Tillman passed to Martinez, who then sent a right-footed cross into the penalty area, Queretaro keeper Guillermo Allison tried to cut off the cross, but the ball bounced past him into the six-yard box, and Bouanga, who had ran in at the back post found himself at the right place at the right time, and he slotted the ball into the open net to level the match.

Energized by the goal, LAFC quickly went back on the attack. Minutes later, Bouanga had a chance at a second goal, as Marky Delgado forced a turnover deep in Queretaro’s side of the field, Delgado passed to Son-Heung Min, who then played Bouanga into the penalty area, Bouanga took a shot just outside the six, but Allison was able to make the save. Another great chance for LAFC at a go-ahead goal came in the 65th minute, as Martinez sprung Bouanga down the left side with a diagonal ball, Bouanga eventually dribbled into the penalty area, played a ball backwards, but it seemed to set up nicely for Mathieu Choiniere, who had trailed the play and he wound up for a long-range volley, but the ball took a bad touch of Choiniere’s right foot, and the ball went into the stands.

Eventually, the match went to a penalty shootout. Bouanga, Son and Yevhen Cheberko converted for LAFC, as did Avila, Santiago Homenchenko and Diego Reyes for Queretaro. However, after Ryan Hollingshead scored to put LAFC back in front, Daniel Parra sent his penalty off the crossbar and the ball did not cross the goal line, putting LAFC in position to win the match on its next penalty, and sure enough that was what happened, as Ryan Porteous converted his penalty to give LAFC the win.