MIAMI, Florida – The first spot in the 2023 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Final will be decided on Tuesday night when Los Angeles FC host the Philadelphia Union in their semifinal second leg at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
The two teams played to an exciting 1-1 draw in the first leg last week in Philadelphia, with a Kellyn Acosta stoppage time score for LAFC cancelling out a late penalty conversion for Union midfield mainstay Daniel Gazdag.
The margins for error will be very thin when the teams take the field on Tuesday night, knowing that just the slightest mistake or defensive lapse could lead to the deciding goal.
It also marks a return to the site of the 2022 MLS Cup Final when the two teams played to a scintillating 3-3 draw before LAFC emerged victorious in a penalty shootout (3-0).
If history is any indication, things will be close. The last five meetings across all competitions between LAFC and Philadelphia have resulted in a draw. A scoreless draw would be enough to see LAFC through to the next round, a 1-1 draw would force penalties and a 2-2 draw or more would give the Union the necessary number of away goals to advance.
LAFC are on the hunt for their second SCCL Final appearance (2020) and will turn to their attacking dynamic duo of Denis Bouanga and Carlos Vela. Bouanga has hand a hand in almost a third of LAFC’s goal in the competition with five goals and two assists, while Vela has three goals in the 2023 tournament and eight in his SCCL career.
Helping on the defensive front is center back Aaron Long, who led the team in ball recoveries in the first leg with four, while holding midfielder Ilie Sanchez has 14 total ball recoveries in the tournament.
Gazdag and Julian Carranza are the dangermen for the Union, with Gazdag sitting on three goals and Carranza at two. The latter leads the team in shots (15) and gets help from Jack McGlynn, who has a team-high 202 passes completed.
No strangers to playing each other in a high-stakes affair, LAFC and Philadelphia are poised to deliver another memorable encounter.
Game Notes, Stats LAFC vs Philadelphia Union
Match Officials LAFC vs Philadelphia Union
Referee: Drew Fischer (CAN)
AR1: Kathryn Nesbitt (USA) AR2 Michael Barwegen (USA)
4TH Official: Bryan Lopez (GUA)
VAR: Fernando Guerrero (MEX)
AVAR1 Jorge Perez (MEX)
