Club América Falls to LAFC in Midweek Friendly at BMO Stadium

In a match designed more for squad rotation than results, Club América fell 2-1 to LAFC in a midweek friendly at BMO Stadium. While the loss doesn’t impact their Liga MX campaign, the performance raised key talking points as André Jardine’s squad looks ahead to more demanding challenges.

This exhibition allowed América to give minutes to players who have seen limited action this season, but defensive errors and missed opportunities proved costly against a sharp LAFC side.

Club América Falls to LAFC in Midweek Friendly at BMO Stadium

Costly Defensive Errors Undo América’s Control

Despite their strong start to the Liga MX season, América showed signs of sloppiness in Los Angeles. Jardine deployed a mix of starters and reserves in the first half, and while Las Águilas dominated possession, they were wasteful in front of goal—something rarely seen from them this campaign.

The second half saw a completely different América lineup, and that’s when things unraveled. Sebastián Cáceres’ misjudged back pass led directly to LAFC’s opening goal, a mistake eerily similar to his defensive struggles against the same opponent in the 2020 Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinal. Minutes later, Javairô Dilrosun’s poor back pass to Dagoberto Espinoza set up another LAFC counterattack, resulting in the game’s decisive goal. While these errors were made in a non-competitive setting, América can’t afford similar lapses once the Concacaf Champions Cup begins next month.

Zendejas Shines Despite the Loss

One major positive from the match was the continued strong form of Alejandro Zendejas. The USMNT winger was América’s most dangerous player, constantly beating defenders in 1v1 situations and creating attacking chances.

His relentless work rate saw him track back defensively and immediately transition into attack, making him a constant threat. LAFC resorted to fouling him in an effort to slow him down, but he remained América’s standout performer.

Unfortunately, his teammates failed to capitalize on the chances he created, but his display reaffirmed why he’s one of Jardine’s most valuable players this season.

Concerns Over Fringe Players

One of the key objectives of this friendly was to give valuable minutes to players returning from injury or lacking game time. Richard Sánchez, Diego Valdés, and Rodrigo “Buffalo” Aguirre were among those expected to make an impact.

Sánchez was the only one to stand out, playing the majority of the match and scoring América’s lone goal. Meanwhile, Valdés showed flashes of creativity but failed to leave a real mark on the game, while Aguirre faded into the background, struggling to get involved.

With América’s squad depth being tested this season, these players must step up in future opportunities, especially with bigger challenges looming.

What’s Next for Club América?

América must quickly shift focus back to Liga MX, as they return home for a Valentine’s Day clash against Necaxa at the Estadio Cuidad De Los Deportes.

While their league form remains strong, this loss serves as a reminder that there’s still room for improvement, especially with the Concacaf Champions Cup approaching. Expect Jardine’s side to use the Necaxa match as a chance to regain momentum and extend their unbeaten start to the Liga MX campaign.