LOS ANGELES — Needing a regulation win to have any hope of advancing to the Leagues Cup knockout phase, the Los Angeles Football Club hosted Toluca FC, the top team on the continent, for the second time this year at BMO Stadium.
LAFC found what it was looking for from an unlikely source in front of an announced crowd of 22,111. In the 91st minute, defender Eddie Segura struck a curling shot inside the far post, sealing a 1-0 victory to give the Black & Gold five points after two games in the first phase of the 36-team joint MLS-Liga MX competition.
“What a beautiful moment,” said Segura, LAFC’s all-team leader with 208 games played across all competitions. “I’m always trying to help the team in as many ways as I can, especially in the attack. To pick up three points, give us life in this tournament, give glory to God and move forward.”
After beating Chivas de Guadalajara in a penalty shootout on Wednesday night, LAFC is positioned to secure eight out of nine possible points
The top four points earners (including tiebreakers) from both leagues will advance to the Leagues Cup knockout stage.
“Maybe it takes close to nine points to qualify for the next round,” LAFC head coach Marc Dos Santos said. “But for me the most important is the mindset of our guys with these games, how serious they are, how much they want to push the game, and after that if you qualify or not, I’m already until now pleased with the mindset. That’s the positive part of everything.”
Well acquainted after an emotionally charged two-leg CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal in the spring, which Toluca won, 5-2, on aggregate en route to capturing the tournament trophy for the first time since 2003, two of the most ambitious teams in North America battled to the end in a feisty but fair third contest.
The dramatic conclusion sealed a performance in which LAFC held the balance of possession and limited the potent Toluca to shots from predominantly outside the box.
“Going to PKs wouldn’t have been that fun,” LAFC defender Nkosi Tafari said, “so I’m glad Eddie called game.”
Prior to that, chances came and went for both teams, especially in the opening half.
Out of the gate, LAFC appeared to earn a penalty when, 15 seconds after kickoff, David Martínez went down in the box and Mexican referee Víctor Cáceres pointed to the spot. However, Cáceres reversed his call following a video review.
Little happened in the final third for either team until the 23rd minute when, working the left side of LAFC’s attack, Denis Bouanga beat two defenders in the box but couldn’t get the shot off.
Action on the field grew increasingly physical and Cáceres let them play. The referee’s sparse whistle offered Toluca a chance to break in the 33rd minute, but LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris stopped a stinging shot from Brazilian forward Helinho for one of his four saves on the night.
LAFC countered hard on a subsequent corner kick, however Bouanga, Son and Martínez could not beat goalkeeper Hugo González, who was one of eight changes to the Toluca starting lineup coming off Wednesday’s 3-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders in Mexico.
The Black & Gold made two changes from the group that started against Chivas. Lloris returned to the lineup after being spelled by backup Thomas Hasal. Aaron Long replaced Ryan Porteous alongside Tafari in the center back pairing.
Midfielder Mathieu Choinière banged the post from 30 yards out in the 38th minute, and just before halftime LAFC’s counterpressure forced a Toluca giveaway at the top of the box, which Bouanga hit over the crossbar on a half volley.
Both sides leaned on their benches over the last half hour.
Dos Santos said he would have made seven substitutions if possible.
Segura, 29, entered at left fullback for Yevhen Cherberko in the 57th minute alongside center back Ryan Porteous, who replaced Aaron Long.
The all-purpose Colombian locked down Toluca attackers, and looked sharp combining with teammates.
“Whatever position the coach puts me in, at the end of the day I’m trying to give it my all,” Segura said. “Today, on the offensive side of the ball, I was able to contribute.”
The winner came as another substitute, winger Jacob Shaffelburg, drove to the byline and floated a cross into the box that was headed away by a Toluca defender.
The ball found Segura 23 yards away from goal. LAFC’s third shot on target during the match bent past a pair of Toluca players and a diving González.
“This goal is the reward for so much that he does when nobody watches,” Dos Santos said of Segura, who has scored five times since joining LAFC in 2019. “So I’m very happy for him and it’s a good example for the rest of the players.”
Said Segura: “I’m happy to hear that. Something I take pride in is being an example to some of these younger players. I think whatever role that I’m in, that’s what I’m trying to do.”
With a spot in the knockout stage still up for grabs Wednesday thanks to Segura, LAFC, unbeaten in seven games, welcomes Querétaro.
Short on depth during a congested period of the schedule, Dos Santos said if LAFC lost or tied to Toluca then he would have completely rotated the lineup.
“It’s hard but right now we put ourselves in a position that we could arrive in the final eight,” Dos Santos said. “So we have to go for it. We didn’t do all this work in these two games to not push in the third one. We have to go for it.”