LAFC Stuns Club América to Represent MLS in Club World Cup: A Surprise Victory for the MLS Team
Los Angeles, California — LAFC has secured a spot in the Club World Cup, while Club América's hopes of participating were dashed in a high-stakes play-in game. Just a week after falling short in the Liga MX final, América suffered another setback when they faced LAFC in a sold-out BMO Stadium. Despite the Mexican giants pushing LAFC to the brink, it was the MLS side that delivered in extra time as Denis Bouanga's deflected shot broke a 115th-minute deadlock. In the end, LAFC edged out América 2-1 after 120 minutes of play, securing MLS a third place in the expanded global tournament. "This was a little bit of redemption for the [CONCACAF] Champions Cup loss against Club León," LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said post-match. "So we took great advantage of this second chance [to make the Club World Cup]." The game's first real threat came in the 18th minute when Sebastian Caceres received a yellow card for a reckless challenge on Mark Delgado. After Delgado received treatment, LAFC's free kick deflected toward Nathan Ordaz inside the box, but his left-footed shot went just wide of the post. After a sleepy first half, the game turned in the 63rd minute when Delgado's rough tackle on Erick Sanchez inside LAFC's box gifted América a penalty. Brian Rodríguez, who spent four years at LAFC, stepped up and drilled the penalty kick past Hugo Lloris to put América ahead 1-0. However, in the 89th minute, with América having one foot in the Club World Cup's door, LAFC found the equalizer. Bouanga's corner kick went to Igor Jesus, and the midfielder's header sailed into the net. After seven minutes of intense stoppage time with LAFC almost finding the winner, 30 minutes of extra time were added. And in the 115th minute, Bouanga nailed the winner to send LAFC into the Club World Cup as Major League Soccer's third team. "As a club [making the Club World Cup], I think it puts you above and beyond many other clubs in the MLS," Cherundolo said. "It puts you at a different level. And it is also a help for the entire league of putting the league on the map at the Club World Cup with one more team." LAFC will be Major League Soccer's third team in the Club World Cup and, in many ways, it will be the best representative. Firstly, it has been a model MLS club since its inception in 2018. Secondly, neither of the league's other two participants will offer an accurate litmus test. Inter Miami is exceptional with Lionel Messi and a roster unlike anything MLS has ever seen, while the Seattle Sounders will likely get pummeled by PSG and Atlético Madrid due to their group's strength. LAFC, on the other hand, will slot right into the middle of Group D and face Chelsea (England), Flamengo (Brazil), and Espérance Tunis (Tunisia). It could realistically scrape seven points from those three games or flame out with zero. Its performance will tell us more than anything or anybody else about how MLS compares to other leagues on other continents.
