![Prost International [PINT]](https://pint.tempurl.host/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PINTtFontLogoRoboto1536x78.jpg)
One moment was LAFC needed on Saturday night.
Facing each other for the first time since the two sides met in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup back in May, LAFC and Toluca battled to a standstill in both sides’ second game of the Leagues Cup on Saturday night, and LAFC faced the prospects of a second straight penalty shootout.
However, Eddie Segura saved the night for LAFC, as his strike in stoppage time kept LAFC alive in its quest to qualify for the knockout stages, and LAFC escaped BMO Stadium with the 1-0 win.
“It’s a massive win,” LAFC defender Nkosi Tafari said. “We can still have hopes of going forward in the competition, there’s definitely some context around this opponent.”
The win puts LAFC at five points in the standings amongst the MLS side competing in the tournament. The top four MLS sides and the top four Liga Mx sides advance to the elimination stages, but LAFC’s five points leave them just one point back of Charlotte, Cincinnati, FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew for one of the top four spots. LAFC must beat Queretaro on Wednesday night to have any chance of advancing in the tournament.
“We have to go for it,” LAFC head coach Marc Dos Santos said. “We put ourselves in this position, now we have to got for it, I’m concerned how much we’re pushing the guys, we need to be a little bit more deep.”
The moment came for LAFC in the first minute of stoppage time. Jacob Shaffelburg dribbled down the left side, evading a challenge from Santiago Simon in the process. Shaffelburg crossed int the penalty area, with the cross intended for Jeremy Ebobissie, Toluca’s Erick Gutierrez cut off the cross, but the ball fell to the feet of Segura, who after bring the ball down fired a right-footed volley just outside the penalty area, from about 24 yards out, the shot curled and beat keeper Hugo Gonzalez far post to give LAFC the eventual win.
“That was my intention,” Segura said of the goal. “I knew I didn’t have a ton of space to work with there, so that’s what I was trying to do, and again, thanks to god, it went in.”
LAFC thought they were going to go ahead in the match much earlier. It started just 20 seconds into the match, as Toluca’s Luan was whistled for a foul on David Martinez inside the penalty area, and referee Victor Caceres not only initially awarded LAFC the penalty, but gave Luan a yellow card. However, Caceres soon got the call for Video Review, and both the call was reversed and Luan’s yellow card rescinded.
Undeterred, LAFC continued to press for the opening goal. Another chance for LAFC came in the 34th minute, as LAFC successfully defended a Toluca corner kick and found themselves on a counter, Denis Bouanga played a ball to Martinez, who gathered himself and took a shot that was deflected, but the ball took a fortunate deflection, as the ball continued forward, Bouanga tracked down the ball and one-timed a right-footed shot at goal, but Gonzalez parried the ball over the end line. LAFC’s next best chance was denied by the framework, as Timothy Tillman played a ball to Mathieu Chioniere, who fired a right-footed volley from long range, the ball got past Gonzalez, only to bounce off the far post.
Once last chance for LAFC to find a goal in the first half came in the 45th minute, as a bad touch from Jesus Gallardo inside the penalty area afforded Bouanga a chance inside the penalty area, but Bouanga’s chance missed to the near post. Toluca did have one great chance for a goal of its own in the 33rd minute, as Helinho chased down a long ball down the right side, Helinho touched into the penalty area, then fired a right-footed volley, but Lloris managed to get his hands on the shot, and parried the ball away from goal.
