LAFC Scramble for Draw vs. Union in First Leg of CCL Semis

After conceding a late penalty that allowed the Philadelphia Union to take the lead, Los Angeles FC’s Kellyn Acosta scored in second-half stoppage time as the teams played to a 1–1 draw on Wednesday at Chester, Pa., in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions League semifinal series.

The second and final leg of the total-goal series will be played Tuesday in Los Angeles.

The game was scoreless until the Union’s Jack McGlynn took an 82nd-minute shot that Acosta blocked with an outstretched arm in the penalty area. A video review resulted in the award of a penalty kick, which Daniel Gazdag converted in the 86th minute.

In the first minute of second-half stoppage time, LAFC’s Denis Bouanga sent a cross from the right wing into the penalty area, and a late-arriving Acosta delivered a right-footed shot that bounced before going past Union goalie Andre Blake.

The Union are in the CCL semifinals for the second time, having fallen to Mexico’s Club America in the semis in 2021.

LAFC reached the 2020 final in their lone prior CCL appearance, losing 2–1 to Mexico’s Tigres UANL.

Tigres leads the other semifinal 2–1 after a home win over fellow Mexican team Leon in the first leg on Tuesday.