After a disappointing defeat in terms of penalties against Mazatlan, the FC is forced to win this Friday when it is in front of Pachuca at the BMO stadium (7:30 p.m., Apple TV), if you want to keep your life aspirations in the 2025 Leagues Cup. Only four MLS teams and four of the MX League are advancing for the quarterfinals, which makes each game decisive.
The League Cup is an annual summer tournament facing 18 MLS teams with 18 MX league clubs. During its beginnings in this edition, Lafc left many doubts after shooting 1-1 in regular time and fell into a long lot of penalties against Mazatlan. Star striker Denis Bouanga failed in the decisive prison, who marked the party’s outcome.
“He is sure to have failed this penalty, but I hope that it will help us to face Pachuca tomorrow,” said Timothy Tillman, the FC midfielder about the last failed prison of his scorer.
For the duel on Friday, coach Steve Cherundolo should use his starting eleven, after having reserved several key players during the first half against Mazatlan.
“We are going to have cooler players and play, to give a chance this time to win the FC,” said Steve Cherundolo, technical director of Lafc, who stressed that the team did not play badly against Mazatlan.
Tillman agreed: “We are a team that generates a danger, but we have to start specifying.”
For his part, Pachuca arrives motivated after defeating San Diego 3-2, and a new victory would leave him very close to secure his ticket for the next phase. Stander Alexei Domínguez was a figure with a double in this meeting.
Pachuca coach Jaime Lozano talks with Alan Bautista during the club group H of the Club World Cup between Real Madrid and FF Pachuca in Charlotte, North Carolina, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP photo / Nell Redmond)
(Nell Redmond / Associated Press)
With the margin of error so small, because they only classify four teams per league, each point counts.
“We are at one time and we want to take advantage of it,” said Jimmy Lozano, Technical Director of Tuzos. “Lafc has great individuals and plays with great intensity. It is a very different rival from that which we are facing in San Diego.”
The two clubs participated in the last club World Cup: Lafc closed its participation with two defeats and a draw, while Pachuca lost its three commitments.
