Cruz Azul and LAFC faced off in the second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals on April 14, 2023, at Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla, Mexico. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, but LAFC advanced to the semifinals with a commanding 4-1 aggregate victory.
Gabriel Fernández opened the scoring for Cruz Azul in the 18th minute with a penalty kick. However, LAFC equalized in stoppage time when Denis Bouanga converted a penalty kick, tying the match at 1-1.
Cruz Azul’s hopes were further complicated when they finished the match with 10 men after Gonzalo Piovi was sent off in the 90th minute. Despite holding over 70 percent possession during the match, Cruz Azul could not capitalize on their chances.
LAFC’s defense, led by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, proved resilient against Cruz Azul’s offensive efforts. The match statistics highlighted Cruz Azul’s dominance in possession, but it was LAFC’s efficiency that ultimately secured their advancement.
With this result, LAFC has reached the semifinals of the Champions Cup three times in four appearances. They have previously been runners-up in the tournament twice, in 2020 and 2023, and are now aiming for their third final.
Cruz Azul, a seven-time Champions Cup winner, was looking to emulate América, the last team to win back-to-back titles in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. The defeat marks a significant setback for the team.
Looking ahead, LAFC will face the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between Toluca and LA Galaxy. The semifinals are scheduled for April 28–30, 2026, with the second legs set for May 5–7, 2026.
The final is slated for Saturday, May 30, 2026. As the tournament progresses, further developments are anticipated regarding the upcoming matches and potential matchups.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the implications of Cruz Azul’s early exit from the tournament and how it will affect their future strategies.
