{"id":1367,"date":"2026-05-07T10:54:49","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T10:54:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=1367"},"modified":"2026-05-07T10:54:49","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T10:54:49","slug":"lafc-playing-with-fire-in-concacaf-champions-cup-semifinal-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=1367","title":{"rendered":"LAFC playing with fire in CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Prior to the start of the opening leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal series between the Los Angeles Football Club and Deportivo Toluca FC last week, supporters at BMO Stadium representing the City of Angels hoisted a tifo featuring a heavenly being smiting a demon.<\/p>\n

Read more LAFC eliminated by Toluca in CONCACAF Champions\u00a0Cup semifinals<\/a><\/p>\n

One week after winning that match, 2-1, to snatch a slight edge heading into the return leg Wednesday, hell might be closer to heaven than they realize.<\/p>\n

Located at the base of a volcano more than 8,750 feet above sea level, Toluca, Mexico, is home to the bathed-in-red 28,000-seat Estadio Nemesio D\u00edez, where Toluca FC, Los Diablos Rojas, recently went unbeaten for 20 consecutive matches (16-0-4) until the two-time defending Liga MX champions followed their defeat in L.A. with another at home on Sunday in a league playoff series against Pachuca.<\/p>\n

Toluca must win at home to advance and secure a home final. The last time Toluca lost three straight was 2023. Because of the advantage earned over 90 minutes, LAFC won\u2019t have to win in one of the world\u2019s most intimidating soccer environments to reach a third CONCACAF final in seven years. But if it does, or earns a draw for that matter, Tigres UANL will step into BMO Stadium on May 30 for the tournament final. Knocking out Nashville on Tuesday night, Tigres is positioned to host in Monterrey, Mexico, if LAFC loses but still advances.<\/p>\n

A draw would nail down a spot for the Black & Gold in the final, as would any one-goal defeat except an elimination-deciding 1-0. Swapping 2-1 outcomes nets out to 3-3 on aggregate and, level on away goals, ensures 30 minutes of extra time with the potential for penalty kicks. But 3-2 Toluca, or a result like it, locks down a series win for LAFC due to the away-goal tiebreaker rule.<\/p>\n

LAFC has scored in each of its last 10 Champions Cup games on the road, the longest such streak by an MLS club since 2008. The visitors can make the circumstances especially tough for Toluca by scoring more than once, which would eliminate the possibility of extra time and require the Red Devils to win by two in regulation to end LAFC\u2019s run.<\/p>\n

The availability of Denis Bouanga, who was suspended along with Eddie Segura in the first leg due to yellow card accumulation, should strengthen LAFC\u2019s attacking posture.<\/p>\n

Over the weekend in San Diego, Bouanga, LAFC\u2019s all-time leading scorer, connected on his first goal since the Champions Cup quarterfinal clincher over Cruz Azul on April 14 in Puebla, Mexico.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

The late comeback and draw on Saturday reinforced the mettle and resilience of a group that has lost twice through 18 games in all competitions. Seven matches into the Champions Cup, LAFC remains the only undefeated team (5-0-2).<\/p>\n

Waiting to travel until after practicing at their performance center on the campus of Cal State L.A. on Tuesday, LAFC hopes to limit its exposure to the elevation, explained head coach Marc Dos Santos, whose players won\u2019t train or undergo a walk-through in Mexico prior to the match.<\/p>\n

Read more World, U.S. season leaders and crash jolt Mt. SAC Relays<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThey have a huge home-field advantage,\u201d Dos Santos said, \u201cand we\u2019re going to have to be very special there to qualify.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nkosi Tafari\u2019s 91st-minute headed goal in Leg 1 came courtesy of a special assist off Son\u2019s foot. The South Korean star\u2019s kick delivery was his second assist of the game and tournament-leading seventh, and it placed Toluca\u2019s attempt to reach a CONCACAF final for the first time since 2014 in peril.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Toluca can turn the tables inside its 72-year-old stadium known as \u201cEl Infierno\u201d (\u201cHell\u201d) or \u201cLa Casa del Diablo\u201d (\u201cThe Devil\u2019s House\u201d), which hosted World Cup games in 1970 and 1986, and underwent a $400 million renovation in 2017.<\/p>\n

To reach a sixth Champions Cup final and have a shot of winning for a third time, Toluca manager Antonio \u201cEl Turco\u201d Mohamed said in Spanish following the first leg that he expected \u201ca completely different game.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know the speed of the ball and how we adapt is totally different,\u201d Mohamed said. \u201cWe want to win the second leg. Anyway, let\u2019s see if we can really hold our ground here at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Toluca received the welcome news that Mexican national team defender Jes\u00fas Gallardo and Red Devils captain Alexis Vega can play. They were called into an early Liga MX-only World Cup training camp starting Wednesday. After practicing with Toluca Tuesday, the Mexican federation confirmed both players are available for the second leg.<\/p>\n

Seeded directly into the Round of 16 off a second straight Liga MX championship, Toluca previously tormented San Diego FC (4-0) and the Galaxy (4-2) at the highest major city in North America.<\/p>\n

Dos Santos reached out to San Diego, the Galaxy, and people inside LAFC to get the lowdown ahead of his first trip to Toluca.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe did a lot of homework,\u201d said Dos Santos, who was told the tunnel from the locker room to the field is \u201ca little bit like Horror Nights at Universal Studios, you know? We\u2019re aware of all of that. At the end, it\u2019s a ball, two goals, the same lines and 22 players.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Rudy Chapa and high school track\u2019s oldest record<\/a><\/p>\n

CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal (second leg)<\/h4>\n

Who:<\/strong> LAFC at Toluca FC<\/p>\n

When:<\/strong> Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. PT<\/p>\n

Where:<\/strong> Estadio Nemesio D\u00edez, Toluca, Mexico<\/p>\n

TV\/radio:<\/strong> FS1, TUDN, ConcacafGO, OneSoccer\/710 AM, 980 AM, 1230 AM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Black & Gold have an edge over Toluca FC on Wednesday, but must deal with the Red Devils\u2019 famed stadium known as Hell at 8,750 feet above sea level.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":944,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1367","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-verified-news"],"yoast_head":"\nLAFC playing with fire in CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal - Silicon Valley Moving Post<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=1367\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"LAFC playing with fire in CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal - 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