Rested LAFC trounces FC Juárez to advance in Leagues Cup – Daily News

LOS ANGELES — Returning to business following a well-deserved summer siesta, the Los Angeles Football Club competed for the first time in nearly three weeks on Wednesday night, romping to a 7-1 victory over Liga MX side FC Juárez at BMO Stadium.

The seven goals set a new club record and are the most by any team in Leagues Cup competition.

First-half goals by Ryan Hollingshead and Carlos Vela provided LAFC a lead it did not relinquish in its Leagues Cup debut in front of an announced crowd of 22,041.

Hollingshead was mostly clueless about his goal, which came in the 31st minute when midfielder Kellyn Acosta hit a volley outside the box that redirected off the defender’s back past Juárez goalkeeper Ramón Pasquel.

Vela exposed Pasquel two minutes later, hitting a dipping volley over the goalkeeper’s head.

Not considered one of Liga MX’s big clubs, Juárez landed in the Leagues Cup knockout round with a second-place finish in its group following a road win against Austin FC on Saturday.

Juárez hoped to complete what would have been considered a historic victory for the Mexican side, and a response from forward Amaury Escoto threatened to make a game of it shortly after he entered at the start of the second half.

Instead, Juárez was barreled over by Steve Cherundolo’s revitalized squad, which made the most of its off-time following a record-setting number of matches to rest and fine-tune its tactics and finishing ability, which clearly manifested in all the right ways.

The contest offered LAFC its first taste of Leagues Cup competition after an automatic bid into the knockout round due to its MLS Cup triumph last season.

“It is our ambition to go as far as possible in this tournament,” Cherundolo said.

A top-three finish would secure a berth in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup tournament.

For the time being, LAFC’s most lopsided victory of 2023 propelled the team into the Round of 16 of the expanded Leagues Cup, a CONCACAF-sanctioned event featuring all 47 first-division clubs in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Prior to an 18-day break between games, LAFC had played six times in 18 days.

“It was a long break,” said defender Aaron Long, who started in the center of the LAFC defense alongside Giorgio Chiellini. “A lot of time to regroup. Get bodies healthy. Scout opponents. Work on some things. So it felt good to get out there and get a big win.

“We definitely weren’t expecting seven goals, but we had a lot of eagerness, pent-up energy watching the group stage and us getting that bye. Seeing things unfold, we were eager to get in the tournament. We wanted to start with a bang and we did.”

LAFC regained a two-goal advantage five minutes after Escoto tightened the match when Bouanga followed his dangerous headed attempt and connected on the rebound.

Prior to being removed in the 69th minute with an apparent injury to his upper right thigh, Vela added his second goal near the 1-hour mark and produced an assist shortly thereafter when he set up the second of Bouanga’s three goals.

LAFC’s Mexican captain was sharp, scoring in his third consecutive match, until coming off for homegrown forward Nathan Ordaz.

Vela will be evaluated on Thursday, the club said.

Bouanga completed his hat trick – his third of 2023, adding the Leagues Cup to similar nights in CONCACAF Champions League and MLS regular-season play – on a penalty kick in the 78th minute that came after Diego Palacios drew a foul in the Juárez box.

The French forward has 22 goals in all competitions this season.

Ordaz closed the onslaught when he scored his first goal with LAFC just ahead of the final whistle.

Goalkeeper John McCarthy made four saves as Maxime Crepeau was available for selection for the first time since breaking his leg in the MLS Cup match against Philadelphia.

Defender Sergi Palencia also returned from a sprained ankle.

“Any time you have a break from competition athletes get bored with training,” Cherundolo said. “They need games. They need competition. I was hoping for that reaction tonight.

“I think 10 shots (on target) and seven goals is pretty effective.”

Up next on Aug. 8, LAFC hosts the winner of Thursday’s match in Utah between Real Salt Lake and Club León, which defeated the Black & Gold in the CONCACAF Champions League final two months ago.