2020 Concacaf Champions League — Quarterfinals
LAFC vs. Cruz Azul
Exploria Stadium — Orlando
December 16 — 10:30 PM ET
TV: FS2, TUDN, TSN5
STREAMING: FOX Sports GO, TSN.ca/TSN App
A showdown nine months in the making is finally upon us as LAFC and Cruz Azul square off in the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals at Exploria Stadium Wednesday night.
Unlike the three other quarterfinal clashes, which played a first leg in March before the competition was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, LAFC and Cruz Azul will meet in a single leg for the right to take on either Club America or Atlanta United in the single-leg semifinals Dec. 19 in Orlando.
LAFC will be looking to emerge victorious against a second Liga MX foe after a dramatic come-from-behind ouster of Leon in the Round of 16. Bob Bradley's squad erased a 2-0 first-leg deficit to score three goals in the second leg with Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi finding the back of the net two minutes apart late in the second half at Banc of California Stadium.
Cruz Azul's path to the quarterfinals was a bit smoother with La Máquina beating Portmore United 4-0 at Estadio Azteca in the second leg after needing a pair of stoppage-time goals to avoid a monumental upset in Kingston in the first leg.
Defender Jesus David Murillo, who was brought in on loan from Colombian side Independiente MedellÃn in October with a purchase option, is on LAFC's 25-man roster, while veteran forward Bradley Wright-Phillips is not. Both players had their contract options for 2021 declined earlier this month.
LAFC last played in Round One of the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs, suffering a 3-1 defeat to Seattle Sounders FC Nov. 24 at Lumen Field. Cruz Azul reached the Liga MX Apertura semifinals, playing Pumas UNAM to a wild 4-4 draw on aggregate on Dec. 5, with Pumas advancing to the final as a result of being the higher seed.
Series Matchup
- This is the first all-time meeting between LAFC and Cruz Azul.
- Concacaf Champions League history: LAFC - 1 appearance (2020) 1 win, 1 loss, 0 ties (3 goals) … Cruz Azul- 5 appearances (2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2013/14, 2014/15): 32 wins, 12 losses, 10 ties (112 goals)
