Denis Bouanga pulled LAFC level in the second half before the MLS side beat Querétaro 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw, closing Phase One with a result that kept its Leagues Cup campaign alive. LAFC converted all five of its shootout attempts to secure the extra point and finish the phase with seven points.

What happened

Querétaro struck first through Alí Ávila in the 12th minute, forcing LAFC to chase the match despite controlling most of the possession. The early goal gave Querétaro an advantage that held through halftime.

Bouanga produced the equalizer in the 57th minute, bringing LAFC back to 1-1 with more than half an hour remaining in regulation. Neither team found another goal before the final whistle, sending the match directly to a penalty shootout.

LAFC was flawless from the spot, converting each of its five attempts. Querétaro scored three times in the shootout, leaving LAFC with a 5-3 victory and the additional point available after a regulation draw.

Why it matters

The shootout point lifted LAFC from five points to seven at the end of its Phase One schedule. That total kept a quarterfinal berth within reach, although LAFC’s place remained dependent on the results of the remaining matches.

The stakes extend beyond the knockout rounds. Leagues Cup awards three berths in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup, adding another layer of consequence for the teams that advance and make deep runs in the tournament.

By the numbers

LAFC held 68.6% of the possession and generated 17 shots, compared with 11 for Querétaro. Its territorial advantage was even more pronounced on corner kicks, where LAFC held an 11-1 edge.

Those margins did not translate into a regulation victory, as the teams finished 1-1 after exchanging goals in the 12th and 57th minutes. LAFC ultimately separated itself in the shootout, where five successful attempts secured the 5-3 result.

What to watch next

LAFC has completed its Phase One matches and must now wait. The remaining results will decide whether seven points are enough to claim one of the unsettled MLS quarterfinal places.

The shootout win ensured LAFC ended the phase by taking the maximum available return after the regulation draw. Its tournament future, however, now rests on how the rest of the Phase One table develops.