SOCCER: CONCACAF Champions Cup - LAFC, Nashville SC reach semis

Denis Bouanga’s penalty kick in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time secured a 1-1 draw for Los Angeles FC against Cruz Azul on Tuesday in Puebla, Mexico. The result gave LAFC a 3-1 aggregate victory in their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal series.

Los Angeles, who had taken a commanding 3-0 lead in the first leg at home last week, now advances to face either Toluca or the Los Angeles Galaxy in the two-leg semifinals.

Cruz Azul had briefly given themselves hope when Gabriel Fernandez converted a penalty in the 18th minute, narrowing the deficit. However, their momentum was halted when Gonzalo Piovi was shown a straight red card in the second minute of stoppage time for a tackle on Bouanga. Moments later, Bouanga was awarded a penalty after a handball call in the Cruz Azul box, which he coolly converted.

The only setback for LAFC was Bouanga’s first-half yellow card, which means he will miss the first leg of the semifinal. Nonetheless, Bouanga has already netted five goals in LAFC’s first six matches of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Nashville SC advanced to the semifinals of the Champions Cup after a 1-0 victory over Club America. The teams had played to a scoreless draw in the first leg in Tennessee, but a 51st-minute goal by Hany Mukhtar in Mexico City sealed a 1-0 aggregate win for Nashville.

Mukhtar’s goal came after a long pass from Andy Najar, followed by a precise centering pass from Cristian Espinoza. Mukhtar finished with a right-footed shot from 10 yards out, beating Club America goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota.

This is Nashville SC's first semifinal appearance in the Champions Cup, marking a significant achievement for the team in only their second year competing in the continental competition.

Nashville will face either Tigres UANL or the Seattle Sounders in the semifinals.

-Field Level Media/Reuters