Key events
Second half underway!
Let’s see if the halftime subs for Club América bring a new spark to this game. LAFC stands pat.
Club América changes
The Mexican side starts the second half with a couple changes to the lineup. Jona Dos Santos and Brian Rodríguez are both coming on, in place of Cervantes and Ávila.
Both of the newcomers will be familiar faces to Los Angeles MLS fans – Rodríguez played for LAFC, and Dos Santos for the LA Galaxy before their moves to Las Águilas.
Who gets the winning goal?
Any predictions? I have a feeling it’s going to be someone very random, like Ryan Hollingshead.
(All due respect to Ryan Hollingshead, a professional scorer of unlikely goals)
Halftime, still scoreless
We’ve played 45 in Los Angeles, and it’s still 0-0 between LAFC and Club América. A mostly defensive opening half, highlighted by a few half-chances that have come LAFC’s way.
An early goal in the second half could really open this one up, and it’ll get really fun. Otherwise, I think we’re in for a nail-biter.
45 min: Israel Reyes has had an excellent opening half v Denis Bouanga so far. LAFC’s biggest attacking threat has been pretty much entirely contained outside of one moment, and in a rare one-on-one moment just now, Reyes stood up Bouanga on the sideline and set América back up with even more possession.
41 min: We have our most audacious attempt of the night, as Erick Sánchez attempts to full-volley a high headed clearance from a freekick from about 35 yards out. Had it worked out, it’s goal of the year. As it was, Hugo Lloris didn’t even need to move.
Reader Kurt P gets in touch:
If Cristiano Ronaldo does leave Al-Nassr, will CR7 go to Inter Miami in time for the Club World Cup and be a teammate of his old arch-nemesis Lionel Messi?
Unfortunately I do not have a crystal ball nor do I have reliable sources in the CR7 or Messi camps. My gut says it’s unlikely, not least because Miami would need to find a way to fit him on the roster and comply with MLS rules. But who knows? Anything’s possible.
35 min: So far it’s clear that LAFC has had the better of the chances, but other than Ordaz’s misfire they haven’t had a lot of great windows to make goalkeeper Luis Malagón work for a save. Club América doesn’t look flustered at all – they’re content to hunt for their first great opportunity, and hopefully take it.
27 min: After Ryan Hollingshead finds some joy and forces a corner on América’s right side, LAFC gets a corner kick. The first is deflected out of play by América’s defense, and on the re-take LAFC can’t keep it in bounds, hitting the side netting. We go on…
Reader Milton D. gets in touch:
Despite Club America looking stronger, FIFA would probably love LAFC and Giroud (and Lloris and Bouanga) as they would be extra PR.
You’re not wrong, but don’t discount Club América’s gigantic fanbase! LAFC might have two household-ish names but América has fans everywhere in the United States; they’ll draw pretty well regardless.
24 min: Save Hugo Lloris! A long-range shot from distance finds its way through a few bodies but is ultimately gathered safely and easily by the goalkeeper.
22 min: The first good chance of the match, and it falls to Nathan Ordaz! LAFC’s freekick sneaks its way into a crowd of bodies in the box, then deflected out to Ordaz, who simply couldn’t get good enough contact on the ball to put it on frame.
18 min: Yellow card for Sebastián Cáceres, and a very deserved one, for a studs up challenge on a 50/50 ball, catching Mark Delgado in a painful-lookin collision. That’ll give LAFC a freekick from a dangerous spot, and Cáceres will need to be careful the rest of the way.
17 min: Aaron Long starts an attack by stepping into midfield and finding Denis Bouanga about 25 yards out from goal. Long continued his run into the area but Bouanga fired a hopeful shot way over the bar.
15 min: Both teams are still fully in the “feeling it out” phase of this game. Long, extended spells of possession, lots of watching where the gaps are opening up. América looking a bit more willing to push it forward at the moment, though.
9 min: It should be noted that for as many numbers as Club América has in the stadium tonight, the 3252 (LAFC’s supporters’ section) is in incredible voice, a black hole in an otherwise mostly-yellow stadium. But you probably already knew that was the case.
Reader Randy Z. gets in touch:
I remember watching another unique match: Concacaf Cup 2015. If I remember correctly, it was USA-Mexico playing the Rose Bowl for an entry in the Confederations Cup. Goals by USA legends Geoff Cameron and Bobby Wood weren’t enough that night!
I suspect in the club version of USA-Mexico, the club without salary limits and strict roster rules will triumph.
Damn, Randy! Good memory. I had forgotten all about Concacaf Cup. Your memory is as sharp as a tack: Those were the stakes and that was the result: A 3-2 win for Mexico. If Club América triumphs by the same score IMO we’re in for a thriller.
4 min: LAFC is starting off by trying to work up Club América’s right flank, then switch the field somewhere on the edge of the last third. It didn’t work the first time, let’s see if they go back to the well.
Smoke, either from fireworks or fan displays, is making this game a little hard to read at the moment…
We are underway!
The teams have kicked off at BMO Stadium. No doubt, this is a very pro-América crowd.
The teams are out
The fireworks are fireworking, Max Bretos and Brian Dunseth are on my TV (and perhaps yours), and this game is inching ever closer to kickoff.
Predictions!
Let’s get ‘em in! Who do you think will win this game to qualify for the Club World Cup?
And how do you think they’ll do once they’re in the CWC?
Club América’s starting XI
The personnel would indicate they may line up ina 4-4-2, similar to how Las Aguilas did in the Liga MX Luigilla semifinal v Cruz Azul. Assuming that’s the case, it’s:
Luis Malagón in goal, with Israel Reyes, Sebastián Cáceres, Kevin Álvarez, and Cristian Borja along the backline.
Álvaro Fidalgo, Alan Cervantes, Érick Sánchez, and Alejandro Zendejas are in the midfield, with Víctor Dávila and Rodrigo Aguirre leading the line up top.
As a reminder….
The winner of this one will head into Group D of the Club World Cup, where they’ll open the tournament v Chelsea in Atlanta in just over two weeks’ time. No pressure!
The winner will also get a cool $9.5m for qualifying for Gianni Infantino’s new favorite tournament. Not bad!
Reports from the ground indicate that support might lean toward Club América, even in LAFC’s own building. The initial selection of photos from the stadium seem to support that.
LAFC’s starting XI
LAFC has named their starting XI for the match, and there aren’t any huge surprises here.
Hugo Lloris starts in goal, with Sergi Palencia, Ulises Segura, Aaron Long and Ryan Hollingshead from right to left along the backline.
Igor Jesus will play as the No 6 with Timothy Tillman and Mark Delgado ahead of him.
Denis Bouanga, Nathan Ordaz and Jeremy Ebobisse are up top.
The pregame scene outside of BMO Stadium. I can smell the tacos from here. Can you?
How to watch
A good question! In the US, you can see this one on TBS in English, and on UniMás in Spanish.
Globally, including in the UK, Canada, Mexico, the game can be seen on DAZN. They will also carry the entire rest of this summer’s Club World Cup.
LAFC’s form
LAFC has been in really good, but not outsstanding form of late. The team hasn’t lost since 9 April’s 3-1 result v Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup, but have only won three of their last eight games. The other five have all been high-scoring draws.
In total, LAFC has managed to give up 12 goals in 8 games and not lose any of those games. Maybe not the best omen for a one-off knockout match, but impressive nonetheless!
So…what’s the deal with this game anyway?
Oddly enough, it all started in Costa Rica. That’s the home country of the club Alajuelense, who filed the first petition to remove either Club León or Pachuca from the competition, despite both being fair-and-square winners the Concacaf Champions Cup. Alajuelense’s reasoning: both teams are owned by Grupo Pachuca, which violates the Club World Cup’s rules against multi-club ownership within the competition.
The matter was raised all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), who ruled that León should be removed from the competition, while also dismissing Alajuelense’s claims to replace them.
In their place, Fifa decided on a playoff between LAFC and Club América, based on regional ranking and, in LAFC’s case, being the team that León defeated in the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup final to qualify for the tournament in the first place.
It’s complicated. More details here:
Club América’s form
Club América is just coming off the disappointment of losing the Liga MX Liguilla final to Toluca, so they’ll be well-practiced for a playoff situation.
