CHESTER, Pa. — Defending MLS champions LAFC battled to a 1-1 draw with the Philadelphia Union in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League semifinal on Wednesday night at Subaru Park.
Daniel Gazdag converted a late penalty before Kellyn Acosta tied the score in second-half stoppage time in a rematch of last year’s MLS Cup championship game, which LAFC won in dramatic fashion for its first league title.
The first half was a scoreless but wide-open affair that featured a heated exchange between both teams right before the intermission when Carlos Vela and Kai Wagner collided while sliding for the ball. Vela eventually got back on his feet and was able to carry on playing.
It was more end-to-end play in the second half with LAFC frontman Denis Bouanga forcing a save from Union keeper Andre Blake with his close-range shot off a cross from Jose Cifuentes in the 66th minute.
With the game looking likely to end in a scoreless tie, Acosta was whistled for a hand ball in the 86th minute and Gazdag converted from the penalty spot.
But Acosta redeemed himself from the mistake, scoring an unlikely equalizer with minutes remaining to give LAFC an away goal and a slight advantage in the tie after the opening leg.
A poor clearance attempt by Philadelphia caromed to Acosta, who dished the ball off and sprinted into the box. Timothy Tillman found him with a right-footed cross that Acosta reached back and deflected over Union goalkeeper Andre Blake on a high bounce.
LAFC hosts the decisive second leg on Tuesday night at BMO Stadium – where LAFC has lost just 12 times in six seasons against MLS opponents – to determine who will play the winner of the other semifinal – a Liga MX battle with Tigres leading Leon 2-1 after the first leg.
Goalkeeper John McCarthy was LAFC’s star for most of the night, making three key saves to keep the game scoreless. But that was wasted when Jack McGlynn’s shot from just outside the box struck Acosta in the arm, leading to the penalty shot after a lengthy video review.
McCarthy, who stopped two penalty shots in the tie-breaking shootout in LAFC’s MLS Cup win in November, guessed wrong on Gazdag’s attempt.
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Tying it late against @PhilaUnion? Feels familiar.
— LAFC (@LAFC) April 27, 2023