LAFC vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC Highlights – April 11, 2023
Advancing to the semifinals of the 2023 Concacaf Champions League, the Black and Gold came out victorious in the LAFC vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC match at BMO Stadium on Tuesday night. Carlos Vela scored a brace in the first half while Jose Cifuentes put the nail in the coffin in the second half, scoring his first goal across all competitions this 2023 season.
Vela’s first goal came early on in the 8th minute following a penalty on Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Raposo who tripped up LAFC’s Dénis Bouanga near the corner of the penalty area. Minutes later, goalkeeper John McCarthy made a huge save on Vancouver’s Russell Telbert who struck one toward the right post.
Up 1-0, Vela connected on another score in the 31st minute past three Whitecaps defenders to double the lead. Vela now totals his goal count to three throughout the Champions League. The Mexican star now ranks third in CCL play so far this season (behind teammate Bouanga’s spot in first place with five) and is LAFC’s all-time leader with eight goals in the Champions League.
In the second half, head coach Steve Cherundolo subbed in Stipe Biuk and Cifu for Ilie Sanchez and Kwadwo Opoku. The switch paid off in the 65th minute when Cifu shot a bullet at the left post from the edge of the box for the third score for the Black and Gold. The assist was credited to Bouanga.
As the clock ticked, Vancouver didn’t have much time left as their body language indicated their inevitable loss. Two minutes of stoppage time was enough to show how much LAFC dominated this match.
Even with the strong offense, we have to give a big shout out to McCarthy for his fourth shutout across three Champions League games so far this season. LAFC will face either the Philadelphia Union or the Liga MX side Atlas in the semifinals.
