LAFC denied late and eliminated from Club World Cup

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For the second consecutive FIFA Club World Cup game, Los Angeles Football Club had its chances.

Yet again, LAFC finished without a goal, this time with a bitter 1-0 defeat courtesy of Espérance de Tunis after Denis Bouanga’s penalty shot was denied in the final minutes on Friday in front of 13,651 on a steamy afternoon at GEODIS Park.

The loss ended the Black & Gold’s hopes of advancing to the knockout round of the 32-team tournament four days after a 2-0 loss to Chelsea FC opened their competition.

“Overall, I didn’t think we played well enough tonight to win,” LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said.

Youcef Belaili got ES Tunis on the board in the 70th minute, finally breaking through with a shot from the left between the legs of LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

In the sixth minute of injury time, Marlon was taken down in the box by ES Tunis’ Khalil Gueniichi, a play that was confirmed after a gruelingly long VAR review, giving LAFC life.

Bouanga was teed up for the familiar role of hero, but his effort to the lower right was correctly assessed by Bechir Ben Säid, who dove left to deny Bouanga in the 101st minute.

LAFC had two goals wiped out by offsides in the first half.

ES Tunis became the second African team, following Mamelodi Sundowns’ victory over Ulsan Hyundai on Tuesday, to win a match in this Club World Cup. The Tunisians (1-1-0) will next face Chelsea (1-1-0), with which it is tied with three points and needing a victory to advance. Chelsea would advance with a draw based on a better goal differential.

“Gave us the feeling that we can keep playing,” Esperance coach Maher Kanzari said.

LAFC, meanwhile, is the first team eliminated after becoming the last team in with its 2-1 victory over Club America just three weeks ago in which Bouanga played the hero with the decisive goal in the 115th minute.

LAFC will close tournament play against Brazilian club Flamengo (2-0-0) on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Flamengo upset Chelsea, 3-1, on Friday in Philadelphia.