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LAFC edges Toluca on stoppage-time goal to begin Champions Cup semifinal

April 30, 2026

LAFC midfielder Son Heung-Min chases the ball down during the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal (Leg 1) match against Toluca FC on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

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LOS ANGELES — Everything will be up for grabs when the Los Angeles Football Club visits Mexico next week to conclude its CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal clash against Toluca FC.

Opening the home-and-away series at BMO Stadium on Wednesday night, LAFC secured a 2-1 victory over the two-time Liga MX champions, giving the MLS power a real chance of reaching its third Champions Cup final since 2020.

Early into six minutes of second-half stoppage time, Son Heung-min delivered a perfect free kick that found the head of defender Nkosi Tafari, who buried the go-ahead goal. Tafari’s second goal of the tournament punctuated an enthralling second half, which saw Son also assist Timothy Tillman prior to Toluca’s equalizer with a classy Jesús Gallardo finish.

Starting in place of LAFC’s all-time leading goal-scorer Denis Bouanga, who missed the match due to yellow-card accumulation, Tillman took a page out of the French forward’s book to give his club a momentary lead.

Following a conservative first half when LAFC got little going, the Black & Gold carried a front-foot approach out of the locker room after the break.

Almost immediately, crosses into the box posed problems for Toluca. A pass searching for Son Heung-min proved uncomfortable. Then Toluca goalkeeper Luis García watched as Tillman drilled a running header just wide.

Near the half-hour mark, Tillman also had a terrific chance inside the box, when his volley was pulled wide. But in the 51st minute, as LAFC caused havoc around the Toluca box and the ball bounced to the top of the circle, Tillman chested down a short pass from Son and off a hop the German-American hit a half volley through traffic that found the back of the net.

The LAFC supporters, who split BMO Stadium 50/50 with Toluca fans among the announced attendance of 20,593, went wild in the 54th minute when their team appeared to double its lead.

Another cross from Palencia, low and hard through the 6-yard box, skipped past Mark Delgado and a Toluca defender to Jacob Shaffelburg at the far post, where the Canadian struck it for what would have been his debut goal with LAFC.

However El Salvadoran referee Ismaael Cornejo held up the restart and checked the finish, eventually deeming Delgado offside on the Palencia cross to give the visitors life.

Forced to pull center back Aaron Long after 67 minutes – he is in the process of building up to full fitness following his return from Achilles surgery – LAFC called on young Kenny Nielsen with Eddie Segura forced to sit out due to yellow card accumulation.

Six minutes later, Toluca found the moment it was looking for, scoring just the second goal against LAFC at BMO Stadium in seven CONCACAF matches as Jesús Angulo hit a low curling shot from the top of the box beyond Hugo Lloris’ outstretched arms.

If not for Lloris, Toluca would have broken through moments before the break. A glancing header from a corner kick in the 44th minute found midfielder Nicolás Castro in front of the net. His well-struck header zoomed toward Lloris, who lifted his left arm in time to deny the attempt.

LAFC center back Nkosi Tafari managed to put a foot on the ball, but the scuffed clearance fell in front of Gallardo, who toed it toward the goal. Only Lloris’ ability to lift himself off the ground and slide across to the near post prevented the Mexican national team veteran from scoring.

The two sides, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in CONCACAF, close the series next Wednesday (May 6) at Estadio Nemesio Díez in Toluca, Mexico, with the winner advancing to a May 30 final against either Tigres UANL or Nashville SC.

More to come on this story.

LAFC edges Toluca on stoppage-time goal to begin Champions Cup semifinal Orange County Register

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LAFC edges Toluca on stoppage-time goal to begin Champions Cup semifinal

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