Orlando, Florida, United States.
The end of the first half between Los Angeles FC in MLS and America in Mexico in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League ended in an extraordinary fight after the American team was left with one less on the field for the expulsion of Colombian Eduard Atuesta, who saw the red card for a alleged header on Guillermo ‘Memo’ Ochoa.
Between pushes and complaints, the two clubs saw the end of the first 45 minutes of play at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida, and after the referee signaled the half, both coaches went into shots.
The Mexican-American defender, Luis Reyes, was one of the first involved, while his Uruguayan teammate Federico Viñas and the Los Angeles player, Carlos Vela, walked in the middle of the disturbance that appeared on one side of the field.
The spirits peaked when Eagles coach Miguel ‘Piojo’ Herrera received a slap from Ante Razov, Bob Bradley’s assistant at LAFC, which revived the spirits and the Mexican coach responded with a push.
At the end of the claims, “Piojo” Herrera was expelled for altercations. The strategist was sent to the stands, while his left eye was red from the palm he received.
The complainant and the arbitration body observed the actions, but did not intervene and did not draw several cards among those involved.
In the end, both teams went to the locker room, with America leading the score thanks to a header from Sebastián Cáceres, but in the second half Los Angeles FC came back with a double from Vela and a goal from Latif Blessing from Ghana to secure a first time in the Concachampions final.