LAFC defeated Deportivo Toluca F.C. of Liga MX, 2-1, in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals Wednesday night at BMO Stadium.
The result gives LAFC a 2-1 aggregate-goals lead headed into the second leg of the two-game, home-and-away series, which will be played on Wednesday, May 6, at Estadio Nemesio DÃez in Toluca, Mexico.
After a scoreless first half that produced only two total shots on goal between the two sides, LAFC midfielder Timmy Tillman scored on a long-range volley in the 51st minute to give the Black & Gold a 1-0 lead.Â
It looked like LAFC had added another at the 53-minute mark, but forward Jacob Shaffelburg’s goal was nullified by an offside call confirmed by VAR. Â
Toluca's Jesús Angulo tied the match 1-1 in the 73rd minute.
In the second minute of stoppage time, LAFC forward Son Heung-Min sent a free kick into the Toluca area that was headed home by defender Nkosi Tafari to make the score 2-1, completing the scoring and giving the Black & Gold a one-goal advantage in the aggregate headed into next week’s second leg. It was Son’s second assist of the match and his seventh of the tournament, which leads all players.
Kickoff for the second leg is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. PT on Wednesday, May 6, in Toluca. The match will be broadcast live on FS1 and TUDN. The winner on aggregate goals advances to the Concacaf Champions Cup Final on May 30.
LAFC returns to MLS action this weekend with a road match against San Diego FC on Saturday, May 2, at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. PT. All MLS matches are broadcast live on Apple TV, with local radio coverage on ESPN LA 710 AM, the ESPN LA app, KFWB La Mera Mera 980 AM (Spanish), and K-Radio 1230 AM (Korean).
