LAFC Advances Past Colorado in Concacaf Champions Cup with Delgado’s Decisive Strike

Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) secured their place in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at BMO Stadium. The match, the second leg of a Round 1 series, ended with a 2-2 aggregate scoreline, but LAFC progressed thanks to the away-goals tiebreaker, with midfielder Mark Delgado delivering the crucial blow in a tightly contested affair.

The game began cautiously, with both teams feeling the weight of the stakes after Colorado’s 2-1 win in the first leg at a frigid Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. That match, played in near-single-digit temperatures, saw Djordje Mihailovic score twice for the Rapids, only for Aaron Long’s late header to keep LAFC alive with a precious away goal. Heading into the second leg, LAFC needed just one goal to flip the tie, and they leaned on their impeccable home record against Colorado—now 8-0-0 all-time at BMO Stadium—to get the job done.

The first half was a tactical stalemate, with neither side generating clear chances. Colorado’s defense, bolstered by new signings Chidozie Awaziem and Ian Murphy, held firm against LAFC’s attacking trio of Denis Bouanga, Olivier Giroud, and David Martínez. Goalkeeper Zack Steffen was rarely tested, while Hugo Lloris, LAFC’s French veteran in net, watched his backline snuff out Colorado’s sporadic forays forward. The scoreless opening 45 minutes set the stage for a nervy second half, where every moment carried the potential to decide the tie.

Martinez setting up a cross that assisted Delgado's goal

That moment arrived four minutes after the restart. In the 49th minute, Martínez sparked the breakthrough, surging down the right flank and whipping a low cross into the heart of the penalty area. Delgado, timing his run perfectly, slid in to redirect the ball past Steffen with a deft touch of his right foot. The BMO Stadium crowd erupted as the goal leveled the aggregate at 2-2, swinging the advantage to LAFC via Long’s earlier away goal. It was Delgado’s first strike since joining LAFC from rivals LA Galaxy in the offseason, and it couldn’t have come at a more pivotal time.

Colorado responded with urgency, pushing for an equalizer that would have shifted the tie back in their favor. Mihailovic, a thorn in LAFC’s side all series, nearly found the net with a curling effort in the 67th minute, but Lloris stood tall to parry it away. Later, in the 84th minute, Cole Bassett tested the French goalkeeper from close range, only to see Lloris deny him again. The Rapids managed five shots across the match but failed to put a single one on target, a testament to LAFC’s defensive resolve and Lloris’s second clean sheet in four days.

LAFC had a chance to extend their lead in the 74th minute when substitute Nathan Ordaz tapped in a feed from Jeremy Ebobisse, but the goal was waved off for an offside call on Ebobisse. Despite the disallowed strike, the Black & Gold held firm, closing out the game with a disciplined performance that preserved their 1-0 win on the night. The final whistle confirmed their advancement, extending their unbeaten run across all competitions to three matches to start 2025.

For Delgado, the goal was a personal milestone, making him the only player to score for all three Southern California MLS clubs—Chivas USA, LA Galaxy, and now LAFC. His manager, Steve Cherundolo, lauded the midfielder’s versatility and clutch mentality, traits that have bolstered a squad retooled for a grueling early-season schedule.

Colorado, meanwhile, exits the tournament with heads held high after a spirited showing across both legs. Coach Chris Armas praised his team’s resilience, particularly in the first leg’s harsh conditions, but lamented their inability to convert chances in Los Angeles.

LAFC now turns its attention to a Round of 16 clash with the Columbus Crew, the first leg set for March 4 at BMO Stadium. The Crew, who earned a bye after winning the 2024 Leagues Cup, represent a formidable challenge—LAFC has lost to them in both the 2023 MLS Cup final and last summer’s Leagues Cup final. With Delgado finding his stride and a defense yet to concede at home this year, the Black & Gold will look to channel their Concacaf pedigree—they’ve reached the final in both prior appearances—into a deep run in the 2025 tournament. For now, though, they’ll savor a hard-earned triumph, propelled by Delgado’s decisive mark on the score sheet.