LAFC 0 Espérance de Tunis 1: MLS side out of Club World Cup after Bouanga PK miss

New York Times

4 hours ago

LAFC won its way into the FIFA Club World Cup in thrilling fashion three weeks ago, but after just two matches in MLS stadiums on the global stage, its elimination has been confirmed with barely a whimper and a moment of complete catastrophe.
LAFC became the second club to be ousted from the 32-team field after falling to Tunisia's Espérance de Tunis 1-0 in a sparsely attended contest at Nashville SC's Geodis Park Friday night. Auckland City, by virtue of lopsided losses to Bayern Munich and Benfica, was first to go earlier in the day, but LAFC players joined their semipro New Zealand brethren after losses to Chelsea and Espérance in which they totaled zero goals.
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LAFC had a chance to stave off the ax at the death, when VAR granted a penalty deep into stoppage time after a foul in the box, but Denis Bouanga, whose extra-time heroics against Club América punched LAFC's ticket to the competition in the first place, had his spot kick saved, cementing the embarrassing result.
There's still a match against the impressive Brazilian side Flamengo in which LAFC can save a bit of face, but otherwise it risks bowing out as MLS's least impressive entrant in the competition.
Here The Athletic's Felipe Cardenas breaks down the key moments and talking points.
It was the lifeline that LAFC needed. It was the opportunity that Denis Bouanga was waiting for. A VAR review awarded LAFC with a penalty in second half stoppage time with a chance to tie the game. A draw would have been enough to at least keep LAFC alive in the Club World Cup. If LAFC fans wanted anyone to be a hero at this tournament, the French-born winger was the ideal choice.
Bounaga entered the tournament in fine form. His game-winning goal vs. América had journalists in Mexico raving about LAFC's cunning star. So of course, it was Bouanga who stepped up to take the penalty. Only the long-armed Bechir Ben Saïd, Espérance's acrobatic goalkeeper, stood in his way.
Bounga smashed the ball across his body, but Ben Saïd, despite diving in the opposite direction, saved the shot with his outstretched legs. It was heartbreak for LAFC and a moment that Bounaga won't soon forget.
BEN SAID SAVES IT FOR @ESTunis1919 !!!!!!!!!!
INCREDIBLE SCENES!
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When LAFC announced in April that Steve Cherundolo would leave the club at season's end, some fans of the black and gold rejoiced. Cherundolo has won in Los Angeles, including an MLS Cup final in 2022, a Supporters' Shield that same season, and the U.S. Open Cup in 2024. But his conservative style of play divided the fan base. LAFC burst onto the MLS scene in 2019 with a high-tempo style of play under Bob Bradley that captivated the league.
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With Carlos Vela scoring at will and featuring a celebrity-backed ownership group, LAFC quickly became one of the more popular and attractive MLS clubs. LAFC couldn't win the big game until Cherundolo arrived, but it did so after he dialed-back its all-out attacking style. Conservative play became the club's identity, which clashed with its original ethos.
Over two matches at the Club World Cup, LAFC was blanked by Chelsea and now a Tunisian side. Bouanga looked a shell of himself, and the absence of a clinical No. 9 was evident, with French great Olivier Giroud not able to deliver in a rare start. LAFC's first shot on target didn't even come until four minutes into second-half stoppage time.
LAFC still has trophies to play for in MLS, but bowing out of the Club World Cup after two games is a blemish on Cherundolo's accomplishments and the achievement of having gotten to play in the competition to begin with.
After Auckland City was punished with an imaginary penalty call earlier Friday against Benfica (Auckland ended up losing 6-0), history nearly repeated itself in Nashville. Bouanga appeared to tangle with Espérance attacker Youcef Belaili inside the LAFC penalty area.
Norwegian referee Espen Eskås called a penalty but later overturned the call after reviewing the play using VAR.
'Number 11 went down too easily,' Eskås told the Geodis Park onlookers. 'Simulation and a yellow card. Indirect free kick for white.'
Chaos in the box! 😱
Youcef Belaïli goes down, penalty awarded… then overturned by VAR!Referee rules simulation — yellow card shown.
He'll miss the next match ❌🟨
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A VAR check was the most exciting moment of the match up to that point.
Bouanga got away with that act but has otherwise been a shadow of his former self at this tournament. His heroics during the play-in match provided the Gabon international with an opportunity to show the world why he's considered one of the best players in MLS. He was contained against Chelsea, despite a few solid chances on goal, and against the Tunisian side on Friday, Bouanga simply couldn't get going – and ultimately failed to deliver with a chance to keep his team nominally alive.
Youcef Belaili was chastised by the referee after a blatant dive inside the LAFC box, and he pleaded his case, unsuccessfully, as play carried on. Nearly 20 minutes later, though, Belaili sliced through the LAFC defense, froze defender Aaron Long with a left-foot feint, then finished with his right foot, his shot going through Hugo Lloris' legs. The Algerian international was a constant dangerman for Espérance throughout the night.
It initially appeared as though his lone 'highlight' would be an embarrassing yellow card for simulation. But sport is about the next play. Belaili took his chance well and scored the goal that Espérance fans will remember for years to come.
Tuesday, June 24: Flamengo, Club World Cup group stage (Orlando); 9 p.m. ET, 2 a.m. UK
Tuesday, June 24: Chelsea, Club World Cup group stage (Philadelphia); 9 p.m. ET, 2 a.m. UK
You can sign up to DAZN to watch every FIFA Club World Cup game free.