LAFC withstood a furious Columbus Crew rally to advance to the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals Tuesday night at Lower.com Field.
The Black & Gold escaped Columbus with a 2-1 loss that allowed them to move on in the competition with a 4-2 aggregate win in their Round of 16 series.
They’ll face Inter Miami CF or Jamaica’s Cavalier FC in the quarterfinals next month.
Columbus Crew 2, LAFC 1
The Crew nearly pulled off a comeback for the ages but came up short, due in large part to Hugo Lloris.
The legendary French goalkeeper played the hero for LAFC, making two highlight-reel saves – including an incredible goal-line stop – to deny Columbus a series-tying goal after Jacen Russell-Rowe and Diego Rossi struck for the hosts.
Denis Bouanga‘s clinical counterattack finish in second-half stoppage time put the final nail in the Crew’s coffin and secured qualification for LAFC.
Goals
- 10′ – CLB – Jacen Russell-Rowe | WATCH
- 45′ – CLB – Diego Rossi | WATCH
- 90’+6′ – LAFC – Denis Bouanga | WATCH
Denis Bouanga tallies one for good measure to put the Round of 16 away for LAFC! 🏃♂️#ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/5wgYTTB5pA
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 12, 2025
Tigres UANL 3, FC Cincinnati 1
FC Cincinnati wasted an early lead for the second-straight game against LIGA MX powerhouse Tigres UANL, who rallied for a 3-1 (4-2 aggregate) win that eliminated the Orange & Blue.
An 18th-minute golazo from Evander, following a skillful set-up from Luca Orellano, had Cincy thinking of a shock result at Estadio Universitario.
However, the hosts turned it around in the second half with three straight unanswered goals to put the series away.
Goals
- 18′ – CIN – Evander | WATCH
- 64′ – TIG – Ozziel Herrera | WATCH
- 69 – TIG – Juan Brunetta | WATCH
- 72′ – TIG – Nicolás Ibañez | WATCH
Orellano’s skills. Evander’s finish. Cincinnati is up. 🔝#ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/Ep44ezqv16
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 12, 2025
Cruz Azul 4, Seattle Sounders FC 1
Seattle Sounders FC bowed out of the CCC with a 4-1 loss at LIGA MX’s Cruz Azul, who closed out the series in lopsided fashion after last week’s scoreless Leg 1 draw at Lumen Field.
Second-half substitute Danny Musovski scored the lone tally for the 2022 champions, poking in a loose ball from close range in the 74th minute to make a game of it at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario.
But a late flurry from la Máquina ended all hopes for Seattle, who were dealt an additional blow with injuries to key attackers Jordan Morris and Paul Arriola.
Goals
- 33′ – CAZ – Charly Rodríguez | WATCH
- 71′ – CAZ – Ángel Sepúlveda | WATCH
- 74′ – SEA – Danny Musovski | WATCH
- 85′ – CAZ – Luka Romero | WATCH
- 88′ – CAZ – Jorge Sánchez | WATCH
Danny Musovski pokes it home to keep Seattle in it! ☝️#TheChampions pic.twitter.com/3Iag13sKsj
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 12, 2025
