LAFC advance at home, the Vancouver Whitecaps advance comfortably despite loss and Orlando narrowly lose to Tigres on a mixed night for MLS teams in the CONCACAF Champions League
Los Angeles FC survived a somewhat nervous loss to Costa Rican team Alajuelense to advance in the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday night, with a 2-1 home loss good enough to give them a 4-game aggregate win. -2.
Alajuelense took a 2-0 second-half lead, and with away goals used as a tiebreaker, they came just one goal away from leveling the tie at BMO Field.
However, captain Carlos Vela eased nerves with a fresh finish in the 83rd minute to give LAFC a two-goal aggregate lead and effectively settle the tie.
Meanwhile, things were quieter for the Vancouver Whitecaps despite a similar result to LAFC.
After a 5-0 home win in the first leg against Honduran team Real España, it would have been a calamity for Vancouver not to advance to the quarterfinals.
Carlos Vela celebrates his vital goal with Giorgio Chiellini and Jesús Murillo vs. alajuelense
That didn’t happen, as the Whitecaps battled back from a 3-2 away defeat and progressed comfortably to the next stage.
However, Orlando City will not join them after a 1-1 draw (and loss on away goals) at home to Tigres.
The visitors struck first through Sebastian Cordova, and an 89th-minute bicycle kick from Ercan Kara gave the hosts some hope before seven minutes of stoppage time.
From there, it was an eventful end to the game, as Tigres did everything they could to run out the clock, with defender Samir sent off and Orlando unable to find a breakthrough.
Orlando coach Oscar Pareja also received a red card after the game, and the teams had to split up as emotions ran high.
LAFC and Vancouver will join the Philadelphia Union in the quarterfinals, while Austin FC was shockingly knocked out by Haitian team Violette.
Ercan Kara tied it with an outrageous bicycle kick, but Orlando ultimately lost on away goals.