Los Angeles FC (LAFC) virtually sealed their qualification to the round of 16 of the CONCACAF Champions Cup after thrashing Real España of Honduras 6-1 in the first leg of the group stage on Tuesday.
Led by a hat-trick from French-Gabonese Denis Bouanga and the hierarchy of South Korea’s Son Heung-min, the Los Angeles side exposed the Honduran side’s defensive frailties from the opening whistle.
A devastating start
The score was opened in the third minute, when Bouanga converted a penalty by Uruguayan Juan Capeluto on Venezuelan youth player David Martínez with a low shot just inside the post (0-1).
Just ten minutes later, Martinez himself made it 0-2 from Son’s pass.
The score increased in the 17th minute with another penalty, this time taken by Son after a VAR review for a foul by Carlos Mejia on Bouanga.
Real España, coached by Costa Rican Jeaustin Campos, tried to react by changing Capeluto for Antony García in the 23rd minute, but the adjustment did not contain the local gale.
Two minutes later, a combination between Son and Bouanga allowed the French-Gabonese to score his second goal with an accurate finish from the center of the box. Up to that point, LAFC had beaten Real España 4-0.
LAFC sentences the series
Before halftime, Timothy Tillman took advantage of another pass from Son to score from close range and close the first half with the score at 0-5.
In the second half, Real España found the goal of honor in the 51st minute thanks to a header by Jack Jean-Baptiste.
LAFC’s final blow to Real España came in the 71st minute.
Bouanga scored his hat-trick on a pass from Sergi Palencia, sealing a 6-1 win that forces Real España to look for a miracle in the second leg, which will be played on the 24th on U.S. soil.
The winner of this tie will face Liga Deportiva Alajuelense of Costa Rica in the round of 16.
Technical data
The scoring opened in the 3rd minute
QuéOnnda.com
Real España: Luis López; Carlos Mejía (Danilo Palacios, m.89), Daniel Aparicio, Devron García, Juan Capeluto (Antony García, m.23), Franklin Flores, Jack Jean Baptiste (Darixon Vuelto, m.73), Gonzalo Ritacco (Anfronit Tatum, m.45), Jhow Benavídez, Eddie Hernández (Nixon Cruz, m.45) and Ángel Sayago.
Coach: Jeaustin Campos.
6. Los Angeles FC: Hugo Lloris; Eddie Segura, Ryan Porteous, Son Heung-min (Nathan Ordaz, m.62), Mark Delgado, Timothy Tillman, Sergi Palencia (Ryan Hollingshead, m.75), David Martínez (Tyler Boyd, m.62), Stephen Eustáquio (Mathieu Choiniere, m.62), Nkosi Tafari and Denis Bouanga (Matt Evans, m.82).
Coach: Marc Dos Santos.
Goals: 0.1. m.3: Denis Bouanga. 0-2, m.11: David Martinez. 0-3, m.22: Son Heung-min. 0-4, m: 24: Bouanga. 0-5, m: 39: Timothy Tillman. 1-5, m.51: Jack Jean-Baptiste. 1-6, m: 71: Bouanga.
Referee: Mexican Marco Antonio Ortíz.
Incidents: First leg of the first round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup between Real España and LAFC played at the Francisco Morazán Stadium in San Pedro Sula.
With information from EFE
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