2020 Concacaf Champions League — Semifinals
LAFC vs. Club America
Exploria Stadium — Orlando
December 19 — 10:30 PM ET
TV: FS2, TUDN,
STREAMING: FOX Sports GO
The road to the Concacaf Champions League final for LAFC goes through Liga MX, with the last remaining MLS club in the competition meeting Club America in the semifinals Saturday night at Exploria Stadium.
LAFC will be looking to knock off a third Mexican rival in their first CCL appearance after dramatically rallying to defeat Club Leon in the Round of 16 and erasing an early deficit to beat Cruz Azul in the one-leg quarterfinal Wednesday night.
While not as dramatic as erasing a 2-0 first-leg defeat to score three unanswered goals in their home leg against Leon, LAFC had to come from behind again against Cruz Azul when former Orlando City SC midfielder Yoshi Yotun converted a penalty kick in the 15th minute. Carlos Vela equalized from the spot and Kwadwo Opoku struck for the winner in the 71st minute.
The run to the semifinals is especially gratifying for Vela, who came up through the famed Chivas Guadalajara youth system, but never competed in Liga MX.
“Understand that Carlos, from the beginning of the season, was so excited for Champions League,” LAFC coach Bob Bradley said postgame. “Excited to play against Leon, excited to play against Cruz Azul. He's already talking about now Club America. He left Mexico as a young player, so these games against the big clubs in Mexico, he's not had the chance as a professional to play these teams. I also think Carlos is really proud of what we're doing at LAFC and the leadership and role that he has.”
Club America are two-time winners of the Concacaf Champions League, lifting the trophy in 2015 and 2016. Coached by Miguel Herrera, Las Águilas needed penalty kicks to oust Guatemalan club Comunicaciones in the Round of 16 after a pair of 1-1 draws, before knocking off Atlanta United in the quarterfinals. Club America won the opening leg 3-0 at Estadio Azteca before suffering a 1-0 defeat Wednesday night in the second leg in Orlando.
The winner meets either Tigres UANL or Olimpia in the CCL final Dec. 22.
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Mohamed Traore (D) - undisclosed injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Henry Martin (F) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Mauro Lainez (M) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Fernando González (M) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Giovani dos Santos (M) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Nicolas Benedetti (M) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Emanuel Aguilera (D) - undisclosed injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
Series Matchup
- 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)
Officials
- Referee: Juan Gabriel Calderón (CRC)
- Assistant Referees: Juan Carlos Mora (CRC), William Arrieta (CRC)
- 4th Official: Ricardo Montero (CRC)
