They say that confidence always kills the cat and to The Gabonese Frenchman Denis Bouanga, this old adage fit like a glove when he missed the decisive penalty after a 24-shot penalty shootout that allowed Mazatlán to take two points by winning 11-10 after a 1-1 draw with LAFC.

In this way, with Two players like debuting goalkeeper Ricardo Rodriguez and defender Bryan Colula giving some of their best games, boosted Mazatlan FC's efforts to have a successful participation in the tournament between the Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX teams.

But really the one who took the night was goalkeeper Rodriguez, as he debuted with great moves, then stopped a penalty, scored another and held on at the end in Bouanga's decisive shot to be able to propel his squad to step on the right foot against one of the most respected teams in American soccer.

The details

The Los Angeles FC squad was the one who set the pace in the first half and really in that period they should have left with a greater advantage if In the 23rd minute, Venezuelan David Martinez would have scored a shot that hit the crossbar. Six minutes later, Martinez himself would not waste the opportunity in a deep pass from Timothy Tillman who, while marked by two defenders, managed to chip the ball over the goalkeeper's exit and it ended up in the back of the net in a great play. But that goal was an incentive for the Mexicans, since immediately the squad led by Uruguayan Robert Dante Siboldi went forward on the right sector, where Brazilians Dudu and Fabio Gomes connected so that the latter shot over the exit of goalkeeper David Ochoa of the Angelino team to nestle the ball in the nets for 1-1 after the VAR review.

For the second half, the coach of the black and gold squad, Steve Cherundolo went all out up front to try to take the lead, even using his star players like Denis Bouanga who did not have a good night, because in all his attempts he was stopped by defender Bryan Colula who became the second most valuable player of the match.

Ricardo Rodriguez, the most valuable in the penalty shootout

For the 24 penalty shots, Mazatlan goalkeeper Ricardo Rodriguez was the figure by stopping, scoring and causing the French-Gabonese forward Denis Bouanga to miss his shot and with that the penalty shootout will end with the score 11-10.

For the Angels, goalkeeper David Ochoa also had his way, but in the end the Mexican goalkeeper ended up taking the palms. For the Angeleno team, their goalkeeper stopped the shot from Brazilian Samir and then Ricardo Rodriguez did the same with Timothy Tilman and then in the incredible mistake of Denis Bouanga, his shot flew over the crossbar to give Mazatlan FC the extra point.