Two Major League Soccer clubs secured commanding victories Tuesday night to advance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, with Nashville SC and Los Angeles FC both completing dominant first-round series wins.
Nashville SC overwhelmed visiting Atletico Ottawa with a decisive 5-0 victory, wrapping up their two-leg series with an impressive 7-0 combined score. The Tennessee-based club will now face Inter Miami, the current MLS Cup champions, in the Round of 16.
The home team established control early when Alex Muyl capitalized on a rebound in the 21st minute. Matthew Corcoran had delivered a cross into the penalty area, where Woobens Pacius directed a header that goalkeeper Garissone Innocent managed to stop, but Muyl was perfectly positioned to convert the loose ball and extend Nashville’s aggregate advantage to 3-0.
Nashville doubled their lead before halftime when Corcoran found Jordan Knight with a lengthy pass down the right side. Knight broke free from defenders and finished with his right foot, beating Innocent for the second goal of the evening.
The scoring continued in the second half as Pacius found the net in the 55th minute, followed by Jack Maher’s goal eight minutes later. Ahmed Qasem completed the rout with a strike in the 83rd minute.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, LAFC secured their advancement with a 1-0 triumph over Real Espana, completing a 7-1 aggregate victory after their 6-1 road win in San Pedro Sula, Honduras on February 17th.
Nkosi Tafari provided the decisive moment in the 64th minute with the match’s lone goal. Tyler Boyd sent a free kick from the right wing toward the far post, where Timothy Tillman’s attempt was denied by Real Espana keeper Luis Lopez. However, Tafari reacted quickest to the rebound, outmuscling Lopez and two defenders before driving the ball into the upper corner of the net.
LAFC goalkeeper Thomas Hasal recorded two saves to preserve the clean sheet. The California club will next meet Costa Rica’s Alajuelense in the Round of 16.
