LAFC Edge Chivas in a Penalty Thriller to Open Leagues Cup

BMO was split right down the middle on Wednesday night. LAFC gold on one side, Chivas red on the other. The atmosphere was as loud as anything the stadium has seen all season, and the game lived up to every bit of it.

In a Leagues Cup opener that had everything, LAFC and Chivas de Guadalajara played out a 1-1 draw through 90 minutes before the Black & Gold held their own in a shootout, winning 5-4 to take two points and advance.

It was Bouanga who got LAFC going in the 38th minute. Martínez found him with a low cross inside the box and Bouanga did the rest, redirecting it past Rangel with a clinical first-time finish. The goal was well earned. Bouanga had been the most dangerous player on the pitch through the opening half, testing the Chivas keeper multiple times before finally getting the reward.

But Chivas hit back almost immediately. Roberto Alvarado, who would go on to be named player of the match, fired home a first-time finish of his own in the 42nd to level it up just before the break. A gut punch, but a fair one. Chivas had shown enough quality throughout the half to deserve something.

The second half was tight and fiercely contested. Chivas dominated the ball, outshooting LAFC 18-9 on the night, and rattled the crossbar in the 69th minute with the stadium holding its breath. For a brief moment, the momentum had completely shifted, the Chivas faithful roaring and BMO buzzing with tension. But Hasal and the LAFC backline held firm all the way to 90 minutes.

Then came the shootout. Hasal was the hero, saving the decisive kick from Luis Romo to keep it level at 4-4 and set up Jude Terry, who stepped up and buried it to send LAFC home with a win. Two points earned. One for the road for Chivas.

Next up, LAFC's Leagues Cup run continues on Saturday night against Toluca at BMO Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8:10 p.m. PT.