LAFC Just Knocked Out Cruz Azul and the Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals Are Locked In

Denis Bouanga buried a penalty kick in second-half stoppage time and LAFC is moving on. The Black & Gold earned a 1-1 draw at Cruz Azul's Estadio Cuauhtémoc on Tuesday night, sealing a 4-1 aggregate victory in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals and punching their ticket to the semifinals.

LAFC's Dominant Run Continues

This wasn't some nail-biter at the wire. LAFC came into this matchup already holding a commanding 3-0 lead from the first leg, which means they were never really in danger of getting knocked out. Cruz Azul, one of LIGA MX's biggest names, couldn't find a way past the Black & Gold when it mattered most. Bouanga's clutch penalty in the closing moments put an exclamation point on the performance and officially sent LAFC through to the semifinals.

Nashville SC's Historic Night Against América

While LAFC was cruising in Mexico City, Nashville SC was pulling off something special on their own. The MLS side stunned Club América to earn their own historic berth in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals. For an MLS team to walk into an LIGA MX powerhouse's house and come away with a win like that is the kind of moment that builds momentum heading into the knockout rounds.

The semifinals are taking shape, and we're seeing MLS making real noise in this competition. Both teams have earned their spots the hard way, and now the real tournament begins.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.