February 24 – LAFC cruised into the round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup on a night of low stress for the Black & Gold.
With a 6-1 lead over Real España, from the 1st leg, Marco Dos Santos put out a team with nine changes from last week, with only hat-trick hero, Denis Bouanga, and Heung-Min Son retained for a token runout as they strolled to a 1-0 win at BMO Stadium.
The visitors, Real España, knew that they were playing only for pride, and that they just about accomplished improving on their possession from the first game to 41%. That translated into more attacking intent with Jack Jean-Baptiste registering the first effort in the 15th minute following a testing set-piece by Jhow Benavídez.
With the luxury of a five-goal cushion, LAFC stroked the ball around with no real intent until Tyler Boyd tested Luis López with an effort from outside the box.
Thomas Hasal, in for the rested World Cup winner, Hugo Lloris, had to be alert in the 33rd minute when Darixon Vuelto fizzed an effort from outside the box after more good work from Jhow Benavídez, who was relishing the time and space given to him by LAFC.
Just before half-time, Vuelto had another sight of goal but this time blasted his effort high and wide.
Nil-nil, after 45 minutes and a moral victory for the visitors as this time last week they’d been shelled for five without reply.
The second half began without the two LAFC superstars, Bouanga and Son, as Dos Santos made the wise decision to look ahead to more challenging scenarios, with Timothy Tillman and Nathan Ordaz getting some valuable minutes.
In the 64th minute, it was Tillman who tested Luis López, who could only parry for Nikosi Tafari to score his first of the season from close range.
With the aggregate score now 7-1, LAFC turned on the style, creating opportunities for Amin Boudri, Tillman, and Ordaz, but Real España held firm.
Then, as the minutes were ebbing away, Nixon Cruz tempted Kenny Nielsen into a rash lunge, and referee Oshane Anthony Nation pointed to the spot. Up stepped Benavídez to give Real España something to take home to Honduras with the last kick of the game. He struck it firmly to the right-hand side, but Hasal read it superbly, pulling off a brilliant save, preserving the shutout, while giving Dos Santos something to think about in the weeks ahead.
With the final whistle sounding, LAFC can look back with satisfaction at a resounding 7-1 win on aggregate and a more testing tie in the round of 16 as they face Concacaf Central American Cup champions LD Alajuelense.
For Real España, they’ll head home to Honduras with the experience of big-time Concacaf football under their belt
Final Score: LAFC 1 v 0 Real España (7-1 agg)
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