Wahala full ground for BMO Stadium as LAFC show say dem no be mate for Cruz Azul. The Black and Gold hammer the Mexican giants 3-0 for the first leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal match. The win dey put LAFC one leg inside the semifinal.
Cruz Azul wey be the defending champion for the competition, come out strong for the beginning. For the first 15 to 20 minutes, na dem dey control the game. Gabriel Fernandez get one strong header wey goalkeeper Hugo Lloris save well well. The visitors dey press LAFC and make dem look shaky for back.
But as time dey go, LAFC find their rhythm. For the 30th minute, tori change. Defender Sergi Palencia win ball for midfield, Timothy Tillman pass quick to Mathieu Choinière. Choinière look up, see Son Heung-min dey run, and drop perfect cross. Son slide am pass Colombian goalkeeper Kevin Mier to score. Na im first goal from open play for 2026, and e turn the game upside down.
Nine minutes later, David Martínez double the lead. Again na Choinière wey provide the pass from deep inside LAFC half. The 20-year-old Venezuelan winger collect ball for right side, use three touches to beat Argentine midfielder Agustin Palavecino, and then slot the ball between Mier legs. The stadium wey nearly full with Cruz Azul fans for blue and white, comot voice.
Martínez come back for second half to finish the job. For the 58th minute, Son dance around referee for LAFC half and find Martínez for midfield with space. The Cruz Azul defenders no fit stop am as e run forward. From the left side of the box, im low bouncing shot enter far corner for net. Na im second goal for the night, make am brace.
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris make five saves to keep clean sheet. Na im seventh shutout for the season. LAFC defence hold strong for the rest of the match, no give Cruz Azul any chance to score away goal wey go give dem hope.
The result mean say LAFC dey carry big advantage go Mexico for the second leg. The match go hold for April 14 at Estadio Cuauhtémoc for Puebla, wey be Cruz Azul temporary home ground. Before then, LAFC go visit Portland for MLS match for Saturday.
LAFC record for all competitions this season na 9 wins and 2 draws from 11 matches. Dem don score 27 goals and concede just 3. For the MLS, dem dey top of Western Conference with 16 points from 6 matches, no loss, no goal conceed for league play.
Cruz Azul, wey don win this Champions Cup seven times, come into the match as defending champion but dem no show the power wey people expect. Dem don pick just two points from their last three Liga MX matches. For the CCC, dem beat Vancouver FC 8-0 aggregate for first round, then survive tough round against Monterrey.
The match show say LAFC form no be joke. With players like Denis Bouanga, Son Heung-min, and young David Martínez, dem dey serious contender for the title. But the work never finish. The second leg for Mexico go still be tough fight.
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