April 14 – Defending champions Cruz Azul crashed out of the competition in their second quarter final leg against LAFC with a late Denis Bouanga goal levelling the tie to send the Angelenos through 3-1 on aggregate.
Cruz Azul needed a fast start in the second leg after being dismantled 3–0 by LAFC in the first leg – and they delivered in fiery, explosive style, putting the visitors firmly on the back foot.
As early as the third minute, Gabriel Fernández tested former World Cup winner Hugo Lloris with a sharp header. Érik Lira and Andrés Montaño followed, both seeing their efforts blocked.
La Máquina raised the tempo again, with referee Iván Arcides Barton Cisneros increasingly called into action. He cautioned Agustín Palavecino, Denis Bouanga (pictured top), Gabriel Fernández, Carlos Rotondi, and Carlos Rodríguez in a wild one-minute spell between the 12th and 13th minutes.
Two minutes later, Cisneros took center stage, pointing to the penalty spot after a Cruz Azul corner saw Fernández go down under a challenge from Sergi Palencia. It looked soft. After a VAR review, the decision stood. Fernández converted, delivering the early goal the home side craved.
The noise and intensity surged, but LAFC had no response. Fernández and Palavecino forced Lloris into two more saves before the Frenchman produced a stunning stop late in the half, denying Campos’ left-footed rocket destined for the top corner—his fifth save of the half, and one of his finest.
Cruz Azul led 1–0 at halftime, dominating possession with 70%.
The second half began similarly, but the match turned when Concacaf’s anti-discrimination protocol halted play for nearly four minutes due to an offensive chant. Momentum shifted. Cruz Azul lost some edge, while LAFC remained largely passive.
Despite a flurry of corners, Lloris commanded his box as time ticked away for the hosts.
In the 79th minute, Cisneros swallowed his whistle when Rotondi appeared to earn a second yellow; instead, José Paradela was booked, incensing LAFC.
Needing two goals, Cruz Azul pushed, but chances for Mateo Levy, Paradela, Fernández, and Palavecino went begging. Frustration boiled over when Gonzalo Piovi chopped down Bouanga—earning a straight red and ending Cruz Azul’s reign.
With the final attack, LAFC struck. Bouanga converted from the spot after a handball by Willer Ditta, sealing a 1–1 draw.
Cruz Azul dominated every statistic but the most important one: goals. LAFC advance to the semi-finals.
LAFC will now meet Toluca or LA Galaxy in the semi-final.
Cruz Azul (1) 1–1 (4) LAFC on aggregate.