LAFC 2-1 DEPORTIVO TOLUCA F.C.
Apr 29, 2026
Att.: 20,593 • BMO Stadium
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles FC moved one step closer to a Concacaf Champions Cup final appearance with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Mexican powerhouse Toluca in the first leg of their semifinal tie at BMO Stadium on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
The first half was cagey and largely uneventful. After a scoreless first half that produced only two total shots on goal between the two sides, it was Toluca who looked the more comfortable on the ball. Hugo Lloris was the busier keeper before the break, making smart stops from Nicolás Castro and Jesús Gallardo deep in first-half stoppage time. LAFC were without suspended stars Denis Bouanga and Eddie Segura, and it showed in the first 45 minutes.
The match transformed after the restart. LAFC came out sharper after halftime, and the breakthrough arrived in the 51st minute. Timmy Tillman sweetly struck a volley and found the bottom corner sending BMO into a frenzy. Two minutes later, Jacob Shaffelburg had a goal of his own disallowed following another lengthy VAR review for offside.
Toluca refused to wilt. Great play through the middle saw Marcel Ruíz combine with Paulinho, who set up Angulo, and he placed the ball perfectly. Lloris managed to get a hand to it but couldn't keep it out, the equalizer arriving in the 73rd minute.
Then came the late drama that defined the night. In the second minute of stoppage time, LAFC forward Son Heung-Min sent a free kick into the Toluca area that was headed home by defender Nkosi Tafari to make the score 2-1, completing the scoring and giving the Black & Gold a one-goal advantage in the aggregate headed into next week's second leg. Ryan Porteous nearly added a third in the 95th minute, only to be denied by García, before the referee finally called time on a breathless evening.
Key Notes:
Son Heung-Min assisted on both LAFC goals. He now has two goals and a competition-best seven assists in seven Champions Cup matches.
Tafari's 91st-minute goal was LAFC's second game-winning goal in stoppage time in a Champions Cup game this year.
Toluca's goal was the first allowed by LAFC from open play in the Champions Cup since the fourth minute of LAFC's win away to Alajuelense — a run of 339 minutes without conceding from open play.
LAFC played without Denis Bouanga and Eddie Segura, each suspended for yellow card accumulation. It was the first game Bouanga had not appeared in since August 5, 2025, ending a streak of 29 consecutive appearances.
With the win, LAFC is 11W-2L-4D in all competitions in 2026, including a 5-0-2 mark in the Champions Cup.
- Raymond Flores
