LAFC rallies past Club América in FIFA Club World Cup qualifier

LOS ANGELES — What comes with $10 million and a trip to the FIFA Club World Cup on the line?

High drama.

Needing extra time to reconcile the outcome of a play-in qualifier determining the 32nd and final team in the upcoming $1 billion Stateside tournament, the Los Angeles Football Club battled Mexican giants Club América to the end, winning 2-1 on a strike from Denis Bouanga in the 115th minute.

Tied 1-1 after regulation when a go-ahead penalty by América forward and former LAFC player Brian Rodriguez was offset with a headed corner in the 89th minute by Black & Gold midfielder Igor Jesus, the big-stakes match at BMO Stadium will go down as one of if not the most famous day in the club’s young history.

Bouanga’s game winner was well-worked. The deserved finish for LAFC’s best player, who played the full 120 minutes plus stoppage time, came off a deft give-and-go between Bouanga, midfielder Frankie Amaya and forward Olivier Giroud, both of whom entered the fray late in the game.

Giroud’s touch of the ball just outside the box set up Bouanga to hammer a shot that seemed to surprise América goalkeeper Luis Malagón.

The Frenchman’s effort places LAFC in Group D of the Club World Cup alongside Brazilian standout Flamengo, Espérance Sportive de Tunis and English power Chelsea FC.

LAFC will open the competition in Atlanta on June 16 against Chelsea, play Tunis in Nashville, and finish against Flamengo in Orlando.

All game long, Bouanga was the key man for LAFC, bursting down the field, driving into the opponent’s box, earning corners and being the menace he’s known to be in MLS.

The contest ended furiously, but did not begin that way.

One shot on goal for each side in the first half didn’t reflect the intensity and work rate on the field.

By the time the yellow and black smoke wafted away from the supporters’ sections and cleared the stadium nearly a quarter hour into the match, the contest seemed to settle in for the long haul.

América struggled to reach LAFC’s box, taking one touch within the 18 over the opening 45 minutes. LAFC played with more intention around the opposing goalkeeper, taking four corner kicks compared to none for América, along with decent looks by Nathan Ordaz and Ryan Hollingshead.

At the break, América head coach André Jardin made two key changes, including Rodriguez, a familiar face to LAFC supporters after he was signed in 2019 as a young Designated Player, and midfielder Jonathan dos Santos. Both helped unleash América and spread the game.

LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo stuck with his starting XI until Rodriguez converted his penalty in the 64th minute, removing Ordaz for David Martínez, Mark Delgado for Cengiz Ünder and Jeremy Ebobisse for Giroud.