Mihailovic strikes twice as Colorado Rapids take lead over LAFC | OneFootball

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – The Colorado Rapids earned a 2-1 victory against Los Angeles FC in the first leg of their Round One series as the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup continued Tuesday at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.

The two MLS sides met for the first time in the CCC and were inseparable on the scoreboard through the first half.

Djordje Mihailovic delivered the opening goal in the 48’ by converting a penalty kick attempt for the home side.

Kevin Cabral threatened in the box for the Rapids’ second in the 54’, but LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris stopped the attempt, with Ryan Hollingshead blocking the second chance opportunity to allow Lloris to collect the ball.

Hollingshead had a chance to get the visitors on the board in the 69’, striking a left-footed attempt into the hands of Zack Steffen.

Jeremy Ebobisse came off the bench and struck on goal for LAFC in the 77’, but Steffen again collected the ball on a night where he amassed six saves.

Mihailovic doubled the Rapids lead in the 80’, placing the ball in the top left corner of goal on a free kick attempt to earn his brace.

Aaron Long cut the deficit in the 87’ with a header inside the box on a delivery from Denis Bouanga, earning an away goal for LAFC.

Bouanga used his footwork to find space in the box and strike in the 90’, but Steffen denied any chance at an equalizer.

The two sides will meet in the second leg next Tuesday at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

Post-Match Data

Colorado Rapids are unbeaten in six straight home matches against Los Angeles FC in all competitions (W5 D1) dating back to 2019.

● Djordje Mihailovic has scored 14 goals for Colorado, with the last seven of them coming from set pieces (six penalties and one direct free kick). Since his debut, only Rafael Navarro has netted more goals for the Rapids (17) in all competitions.

● Djordje Mihailovic has been directly involved in four goals in five career matches in the Concacaf Champions Cup (2 goals tonight, 1 goal and 1 assist with CF Montréal vs. Santos Laguna in 2022).

● Djordje Mihailovic is the first American player to score a direct free-kick goal in the Concacaf Champions Cup since Kellyn Acosta for FC Dallas vs. Pachuca in March 2017.

● Colorado’s last two wins against LAFC had multiple goal

involvements from Djordje Mihailovic: tonight, in the Concacaf Champions Cup (2 goals) and in March 2024 in MLS (2 goals and 1 assist).

● With his assist tonight, Denis Bouanga has been directly involved in 11 goals (7 goals and 4 assists) in nine career matches in the Concacaf Champions Cup. He has been involved in five goals (1 goal, 4 assists) in six career matches against the Rapids in all competitions.

● Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga has nine direct goal contributions in five career away matches in the Concacaf Champions Cup (6 goals, 3 assists), four more than any other player since he made his debut in the competition in 2023.