We dreamed a dream, and now that dream is gone from us. While nothing is ever a certainty in this wonderful, chaotic sport of soccer, this was the match that LAFC were supposed to make the statement in. Sure, many expected the loss in match day one against Chelsea FC, but with how the team kept it close and looked like they just needed to fine-tune some things to get the result against a top club in England, there was hope that match two would be different. Espérance absolutely deserves respect, but this is a club that is far more the same level as LAFC than a team from the Premier League, if ever there was a chance to really make their mark on this tournament, it was this one. Unfortunately, the woes away from BMO extend to neutral site matches as well, as the team not only fell to the African side, but put in one of their worst showings in a while.
It’s the end of the road for some clubs at the #CWC 😔
Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld pic.twitter.com/MdbMkUFSe3
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 22, 2025
There wasn’t much action from either side in the first half of the match. LAFC kept just over 60% of the possession, but it was one of those days where they couldn’t do anything with it. There was a combined six shots in the entirety of the first half, with LAFC only seeing two of those. There was only two shots on goal, with Espérance having both of those looks. Los Angeles put together 300 passes with 91% success, but again, they did nothing with them. Perhaps most worrying was the lack of urgency. This was a match LAFC not only could win, but needed to win if they were going to keep their hopes of advancing, alive going into the final match of group play. Thankfully, the half ended scoreless, so while they couldn’t get into the back of the net, they were able to do enough to keep ES Tunis out as well.
LAFC proved once again to be a second half side, looking a lot more lively in the back half of the match. They put together eight shots, with two finding their target, stringing together just over 200 passes with 80% success. Unfortunately, it was once again one of those days where it seemed like a shield was put up around the goal. They racked up several very solid looks and chances at goal, but couldn’t find that clinical touch in the final third to put it away and take the lead. The only goal of the night didn’t come until the 70th minute of the match. Espérance was able to get on the counter, going right through the defense. For a moment it looked like LAFC did enough to get the stop as the original attacker went down without a foul call, but Youcef Belaïli was there to keep the play alive and with one strike put it past Lloris despite having a difficult angle at goal.
⚽️ BELAILI PUTS IT AWAY!@ESTunis1919 is up 0-1!
Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #LAFEST pic.twitter.com/f6RGkeuyZB
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 20, 2025
LAFC did have a chance to, at the very least, get an equalizer and score their first goal of the tournament in the final moments of the match. After being awarded a penalty, Denis Bouanga was given the ball from the spot to try and save a point from the match. Unfortunately, throughout this tournament a lot of the attack has looked like that from earlier this season, and the trend sadly continued on the penalty take. The shot was strong, but Ben Said guessed the right way, and was there to stop the shot from crossing the line. The miss not only sealed the result for Espérance, but it sealed the fate of LAFC who, with the loss, were officially eliminated from the competition.
The team will still play their third, and final, group stage match against Flamengo tomorrow. Brutally honest, very few, if anyone, really expected LAFC to go on a run and win it all. With teams like Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea, PSG, this was always going to be tough task for an MLS side, but we all expected a slightly better showing. The struggles away from home continue, and now, the team will look to finish strong to at least have something positive to take with them for the second half of the MLS season.
Thoughts on the loss to Espérance? Leave a comment below!