(East Los Angeles, CA.) December 17, 2020 [From the Editor’s Desk]: It was a great soccer/fútbol night to remember!! Wednesday, December 16, 2020. The Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (SCCL) match was just what the LAFC and Major League Soccer (MLS) needed, an exclamation point styled, statement victory over the Liga MX, Cruz Azul, aka “La Maquina.” Now it’s straight-away and onto the Champions League Semi Finals vs. another Liga MX powerhouse, Club América, aka Águilas. That game is scheduled to take place at 7:30 pm (PT) this Saturday, once again in Orlando.
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(Match Summary): The scoring was quick as Cruz Azul converted an early penalty kick at the 15′ mark. Cruz Azul’s Yoshi Yotun then stepped up and finished his job of putting up the first goal of the match. LAFC then tied it at the 37th minute when Carlos Vela was tripped inside the box and was awarded a penalty kick. He took a slow run-up on his approach and then blasted his patented left-footed line-drive into the left-back of the goal, just past the outreach arms of the goalie. The match would be tied at the half (1-1).
In the second half, the only score came at the 71st minute, when Kwado Opoku, the 19 year-old sensation from Ghana, scored on a beautifully delivered corner crosser that took a “headed” rebound from the pack and then took a single bounce straight towards Opoku. Upon measuring his approach to the ball, he had a great look at the goal from the right side and then delivered a precisely targeted left-footed 25 yd. low line-drive into the far left of the net. Opoku’s joy, as well as that of his teammates, was palpable enough to see and feel. The new score was now LAFC-Black & Gold 2, Cruz Azul 1. To watch the match highlights, click here.
(Photo Gallery): Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League @The Champions; Major League Soccer @MLS; CRUZ AZUL @CruzAzulCD; LAFC @lafc
(More Game Notes): The winner of this Semi-final meets either Tigres UANL or Olimpia in the CCL final Tuesday, December 22nd. This is the first all-time meeting between LAFC and Club America; Concacaf Champions League History: LAFC – 1 appearance (2020) 2 wins, 1 loss, 0 ties (5 goals) … America – 4 appearances (2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2018) 20 wins, 5 losses, 9 ties (78 goals). Carlos Vela, a former selection of the Chivas Guadalajara youth program, left Mexico without ever competing in La Liga MX.
(Next Up): Saturday, Dec. 19th, 7:30 pm (PT), Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL) Semi-Final #1 – LAFC vs. Club América, Broadcast: Fox Sports 2 & TUDN; LIVE Streaming: FOX Sports Go
