Denis Bouanga’s penalty kick in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time gave Los Angeles FC a 1-1 draw with Cruz Azul on Tuesday in Puebla, Mexico, and LAFC rolled to a 3-1 aggregate victory in a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal series.
Los Angeles, which built a comfortable 3-0 lead in the first leg at home last week, moves on to face either Toluca or the Los Angeles Galaxy in the two-leg semifinals.
Cruz Azul gave themselves a chance to rally when Gabriel Fernandez scored on a penalty kick in the 18th minute.
However, the hosts could get no closer, and Cruz Azul ultimately were reduced to 10 men when Gonzalo Piovi was issued a straight red card for a tackle on Bouanga in the second minute of second-half stoppage time.
Five minutes later, a handball call in the Cruz Azul 18-yard box led to the penalty kick that Bouanga converted.
The main downside of the night for LAFC was that Bouanga received a first-half yellow card, which will lead to him being suspended for the first leg of the semifinal series. Bouanga has five goals through Los Angeles’ first six CONCACAF Champions Cup matches.
Later Tuesday night, Nashville SC were set to conclude their quarterfinal series against Club America at Mexico City. The teams played to a scoreless draw last week in Tennessee.
Nashville SC 1, Club America 0
Hany Mukhtar fired home the lone goal in the 51st minute, and visiting Nashville stunned Club America at Mexico City, advancing to the semifinals with a 1-0 aggregate victory.
The teams played to a scoreless draw last week in Tennessee.
The Boys in Gold will meet either Tigres UANL or the Seattle Sounders in the semifinals.
The decisive moment in the quarterfinal second leg started with Nashville’s Andy Najar delivering a long pass down the right side. Cristian Espinoza’s centering pass split two Club America defenders, and Mukhtar beat goalie Rodolfo Cota with a right-footed shot from 10 yards out.
Nashville, competing in the continental event for the second time, is headed to its first semifinal appearance.
–Field Level Media
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