The LAFC came close and could not change the history of their MLS predecessors in the CONCACAF Champions League (Concachampions) and fell 2-1 to the Tigers in the Regional Tournament Final.
The Angels club had been surprised to become the first team in the American league to eliminate three Mexican clubs in the same tournament, after beating Leon, Cruz Azul and America, but could not with Tigers in the duel by title.
“We are proud of the way we try to do things. We continue to try to grow as an institution,” said Bob Bradley, LAFC coach. “It’s another of those nights where we have to take our lessons and that’s what I focus on.
“It’s difficult to immediately process what happened. We are very disappointed, for 70 minutes we complicate things for them (in Tigres), it was a very hard game, difficult, but we try to press and set the pace for the game,” .
The LAFC is an institution that was born in 2018 and against Tigres played the first final in its history and did so in an international tournament. Those led by Bradley were worthy finalists in sticking to their game idea, which has made them a contending team since its founding.
“I really like (LAFC), I like how Bradley trains and makes his team play,” said Ricardo “Tuca” Ferreti, Tigers ’technical director, after winning his first Concachampions in four attempts. “It’s a great rival with high, low pressure, everywhere, a lot of intensity. Our team had a good reaction to come back.”
LAFC took the lead in the 61st minute with a goal from Diego Rossi. Ironically, it was the first time in the entire knockout phase of the tournament that the Angels took the lead in a match. In front of the Lion, the Blue Cross and America, they had to go back.
“We had a great chance to go 2-0 with the shot of Carlos Vela covering the defense, then a misunderstanding between Eddie Segura and goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer gives the corner kick where the goal of the tie, “Bradley explained. “Then, prior to the second goal, you could see that we started to be more careless in our game, to give way. Pierre Andre Gignac is an excellent player, who is looking for those moments and found the goal.”
Tigres were given a gift! The ref dubiously awarded them a penalty 72 minutes into the match, which was neatly put away by Hugo Ayala. From that moment on, the felines grew in their game and the angels blurred.
After 84 minutes, a mistake by the home side’s left defense allowed Luis “Chaka” Rodríguez to get through. He outclassed the home side’s keeper, adding another goal for the visitors. The Frenchman did not forgive to sentence the final 2-1.
“Our team is growing, it showed good things, a great mindset to play a final and unfortunately we ended up in a way that disappointed us,” Bradley lamented.
Vela was unable to win the first club-level championship of his career. In the first half, the Mexican suffered a high number of fouls, but the referee decided not to show cards to any team throughout the match, despite repeated kicks.
In addition, the Guatemalan whistler Mario Escobar did not score a penalty against Tigres and an offside in Rossi’s goal that could only be seen in the replay.
“Vela was hit hard in the first half, he got hit a lot, I’m not sure why when you have a player who has been attacked repeatedly, you don’t feel the need to show a card,” Bradley said of the performance. Central American referee.
The LAFC joined Real Salt Lake, Montreal Impact and Toronto FC as the four MLS representative teams that have played in the CONCACAF Champions League finals that have been left with the runner-up against League teams. MX.
For its part, Tigres will attend the Club World Cup in Qatar from 1 to 11 February 2021.