LOS ANGELES — A frantic finish on Tuesday night salvaged the result the Los Angeles Football Club needed to advance to the knockout stage of the Leagues Cup.
LAFC didn’t earn a second point, however, ultimately losing to the Vancouver Whitecaps in a penalty kick shootout to close their two-match group stage with four points.
Playing in front of an announced crowd of 18,351 at BMO Stadium, LAFC still walked away with its most dramatic comeback of the year, completing stage one of the monthlong MLS-Liga MX competition.
Goals by Kei Kamara in the 88th minute and Mateusz Bogusz in the 95th dug LAFC out of a hole that seemed insurmountable until it wasn’t.
In the spring, when Vancouver fell to LAFC, 3-0, at BMO Stadium in an MLS regular-season contest, the Whitecaps attempted to play with the ball and dictate the game.
This time around they willingly conceded possession, focusing instead on denying space to LAFC’s wingers and limiting the Black & Gold’s potent transition attack.
LAFC didn’t get a clean look at goal until Cristian Olivera’s shot in the 25th minute.
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By that point in the game, however, the hosts knew they would have to rally if they were going to secure at least one point.
Sebastian Berhalter’s half-volley from 35 yards put Vancouver on the board in the fifth minute.
After failing to clear the ball off a Whitecaps corner kick, LAFC goalkeeper Abraham Romero was caught by surprise and reacted late as Berhalter’s curling shot veered away from him.
Then in the 17th minute, Vancouver defender Ranko Veselinovic exploited LAFC on a corner kick by deking fullback Ryan Hollingshead near the 6-yard box before redirecting the ball past a stationary Romero, making his third start of the year for Coach Steve Cherundolo’s team.
With the final group standings hanging in the balance, Vancouver will host the team LAFC defeated on Friday, Club Tijuana, this Saturday at BC Place.
More to come on this story.
