LAFC complete the lineup for Club World Cup after victory against Club Americas seals their entry into the tournament.
LAFC booked a place in Chelsea’s group at this summer’s Fifa Club World Cup after coming from behind to beat Club America in a play-off.
The game, which was contested at LAFC’s BMO Stadium, ended 1-1 before Gabon international Denis Bouanga scored the game-winning goal five minutes from the end of extra time.
Following the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s upholding of FIFA’s decision to ban Mexican team Club Leon from the new expanded 32-team tournament, which will take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, the one-off match was played.
In March, FIFA ruled that Club Leon had violated the tournament’s rules regarding multi-club ownership.
After defeating LAFC in the 2023 Concacaf Champions League final, they advanced to the Club World Cup, although Club America, the top-ranked team in the Confederation rankings, was unable to make it.
After Mark Delgado fouled Erick Sanchez in the 64th minute, former LAFC player Brian Rodriguez scored a penalty to give Club America the lead in the play-off.
The match went into extra time as Brazilian Igor Jesus equalised in the 89th minute with his first LAFC goal.
Oliver Giroud, a former attacker for Chelsea and Arsenal, came on as a substitute in the 74th minute and gave LAFC their spark.
As the play-off appeared to be headed to a penalty shootout, the 38-year-old, a World Cup champion with France, set up Bouanga’s winner.
On June 16, LAFC, which also has former Tottenham goalie Hugo Lloris on staff, will play Chelsea in their first Group D encounter at Atalanta. They will next play Flamengo of Brazil and Esperance Sportive de Tunis.