Cruz Azul, reigning champions of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, lost 3-0 to LAFC (Los Angeles FC) on Tuesday in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the continental tournament and were left on the ropes ahead of the second leg in Puebla.
Cruz Azul and LAFC will play again next Tuesday at the Cuauhtémoc Stadium. La Máquina will have to work a miracle to defend the title won last year against Vancouver.
LAFC imposes its power and strikes first
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It will be difficult for them because the Angelenos lead the MLS Western Conference.
They are undefeated in 2026 in all competitions, with 9 wins and 2 draws, 27 goals scored and only 3 conceded.
Although Cruz Azul dominated possession (65%), it was LAFC who carried the offensive weight.
Exploiting on the counterattack the immense spaces in the Mexican backline throughout the match.
It took the Angelenos 30 minutes to break the tie.
Germany’s Timothy Tillman won a split ball in the middle of the field and played it into space for Quebec’s Mathieu Choinière, who rode down the right flank and put in a cross that was finished off by Son Heung-Min.
Cruz Azul and LAFC will play again next Tuesday
QuéOnnda.com
David Martinez sentences and LAFC crushes
The 2-0 lead came in the 39th minute.
This time it was Choinière who sent a long ball to Venezuelan David Martinez, also on the right flank.
With explosive speed, he broke into the area despite Erik Lira’s marking and scored between the legs of the Colombian Kevin Mier.
After the break, the Venezuelan scored the third after receiving a ball in his own half and running the length of the field.
Overcoming Mexican defenders, he went deep into Cruz Azul’s area and crossed a shot that once again beat Mier. It was the 58th minute.
With the 3-0 lead, LAFC took their foot off the gas, giving Cruz Azul room to push forward in search of a more favorable result for the second leg.
But the Mexican team’s approaches failed to trouble Hugo Lloris.
With information from EFE
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