LAFC burst onto Leagues Cup 2023 with a huge win over FC Juarez (6-1) in the round of 32 clash which saw a double from Carlos Vela to add to Denis Bouanga's hat-trick. The West Coast side appeared for the first time in the tournament after having qualified automatically for the knockouts after winning the 2023 MLS Cup.
The enigmatic Carlos Vela lit up the match with two special goals: the first was an outside-foot chip to fool Jaurez keeper Ramón Pasquel. If this first effort wasn’t enough for the LAFC faithful at BCO Stadium, then the second was certainly another treat for the home fans. It was an approach to the box that we commonly see from Vela - and the result was as devastating as expected. A left-foot curler from the Mexican saw the game out of sight at 3-1.
Vela’s contribution didn’t stop there, when he provided the key pass to Denis Bouanga to score LAFC’s fifth goal. It was a move that was his last of the game, as he walked off the pitch sustaining what looked like muscle injury.
