An agonizing goal from Omar Campos crowned LAFC as champions

A goal from the Mexican Omar Campos in extra time this Wednesday promoted the emphatic 3-2 win of Los Angeles FC against him Sporting Kansas City which gave Steve Cherundolo’s team the title in the final of US Open Cup played at BMO Stadium in the city of Los Angeles.

After a 1-1 score at ninety minutes, Campos, a former Santos Laguna player, scored a great goal with his right foot in the 102nd minute after an assist from Uruguayan Cristian Olivera and Sierra Leonean Kei Chamber confirmed LAFC’s victory with a header. . The Angelenos, still without Mexican Carlos Vela, won the fourth trophy in their young history. Founded in 2018, before the US Open Cup, they won two Supporters’ Shields for the best team in the MLS regular season and an MLS championship.

It was a back-and-forth game, with a high tempo and both teams looking for a goal until the end. LAFC took the lead in the 53rd minute thanks to Frenchman Olivier Giroud, who finished a low cross from Poland’s Mateusz Bogusz with aplomb. The French forward, formerly of Chelsea and Milan, among others, celebrated his first goal with the Los Angeles team, but the joy of his fans lasted only a few minutes.

In the 59th minute, Sporting Kansas City was able to equalize with a great goal from German Erik Thommy. The former Stuttgart player, in his third season in American soccer, brought down French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris with a powerful shot from his right foot inside the area that hit the far post. That goal ended up forcing extra time in Los Angeles, though Bogusz had a goal called in the final minutes, alone against rival goalkeeper Tim Melia.

But in added time it was time for Mexican international Campos, who brought down the goalkeeper with a low shot from his right foot that was released into the area after Olivera’s pass. It was a psychological blow for Sporting, who conceded in the 109th minute to a header from 40-year-old veteran Kei Kamara.