LAFC (5) 1-1 (3) CLUB QUERÉTARO
Aug 12, 2026
Att. 35,286 • BMO Stadium
LOS ANGELES —LAFC did what it could to keep its Leagues Cup run alive Wednesday night, coming from behind to draw Querétaro 1-1 before winning 5-3 in a penalty shootout at BMO Stadium in its final Phase One match.
It wasn't the regulation win LAFC was looking for, but the Black & Gold walked away with two points, finished Phase One unbeaten and gave themselves a chance of reaching the quarterfinals. Querétaro entered the night already eliminated after losing its opening two matches, but the Liga MX side gave LAFC problems almost immediately.
The visitors took the lead in the 12th minute after Bayron Duarte tested Hugo Lloris from distance. Lloris made the initial save, but the rebound fell directly into the path of Alí Ávila, who headed it in from close range to put Querétaro ahead 1-0. It was the first time LAFC had trailed in a Leagues Cup match since the 2024 final against Columbus. From there, LAFC controlled most of the ball but struggled to turn that control into goals.
Los Angeles finished with 69% possession, completed 604 of 678 passes at an 89% rate, and won 11 corners compared with just one for Querétaro. The Black & Gold also created five big chances, but Querétaro goalkeeper and defense repeatedly kept the hosts from finding a breakthrough.
That finally changed in the 57th minute. Timothy Tillman played the ball forward to Ryan Raposo on the right side, and Raposo delivered a first-time cross toward the back post. Denis Bouanga arrived unmarked and finished from close range to level the match at 1-1.
The goal was Bouanga's 15th in Leagues Cup, moving him alone atop the competition's all-time scoring list. It also continued another strong season for LAFC's leading scorer, who reached 18 goals in 28 appearances across all competitions. LAFC continued pushing for the regulation winner.
The hosts eventually outshot Querétaro 17-11, but despite controlling long stretches of the second half and repeatedly getting into dangerous positions, the second goal never came. Querétaro committed 16 fouls and spent much of the match without the ball, but stayed organized enough to force LAFC into a shootout. With the match tied after 90 minutes, LAFC once again had to settle things from the penalty spot.
Bouanga converted LAFC's first attempt before Son Heung-Min, Yevhen Cheberko and Ryan Hollingshead followed with successful penalties. Querétaro stayed with LAFC until Daniel Parra stepped up and sent his attempt off the crossbar. That opened the door for Ryan Porteous.
Porteous converted LAFC's fifth penalty to finish the shootout 5-3 and secure the extra point for the Black & Gold. It was LAFC's second shootout victory of the tournament after also defeating Chivas from the spot in its opening Phase One match. LAFC converted 10 of its 11 penalty attempts across those two shootouts.
LAFC finished Phase One with a 1-0-2 record and seven points, going unbeaten through matches against Chivas, Toluca and Querétaro. The result temporarily moved the club into third place on the MLS side of the Leagues Cup table, although its quarterfinal fate remained dependent on the remaining Phase One results.
For Querétaro, the night was a much stronger showing than its first two tournament matches. Already eliminated and with little more than pride to play for, Gallos Blancos took an early lead and forced one of MLS's strongest sides all the way to penalties.
For LAFC, it was far from a perfect performance. They controlled the match, had the ball, created the chances and spent most of the night in Querétaro's half, but couldn't find the regulation winner they really needed.
Still, when the pressure shifted to penalties, LAFC delivered again.
- Joao Portugal
