Mihailovic guides Rapids to Concacaf Champions Cup win over LAFC 📝 | OneFootball

One man was the star of the show as Colorado Rapids beat LAFC 2-1 in the first leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup first-round clash on Tuesday.

Scorer: Mihailovic 48' (P), 80'; Long 86'

Sitting at 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 C), it was a sluggish first half between these two Major League Soccer sides despite the hot talent available on the pitch.

With only three shots on target combined after the initial 45 minutes, there was everything still to play for in the second half. Thankfully for the hosts, the talents of Djordje Mihailovic proved the difference.

The attacking midfielder took the best opportunity for Colorado when it arrived and broke the deadlock only three minutes after the restart from the penalty spot. Mihailovic sent the ball down the middle as goalkeeper Hugo Lloris dove to his left for 1-0.

Then, after another half an hour of the two teams toying with the ball in midfield, the 26-year-old scored an expert free-kick perfectly nestled into the top left corner. Lloris, again, was left no chance.

LAFC, who statistically dominated the match with 62% possession of the ball and 15 shots to seven, left it a little too late to threaten any comeback. It was Aaron Long who turned things back to a one-goal game in the 86th minute after directing his header toward the back post.

However, the Rapids held on for a vital victory at home ahead of the return leg in Los Angeles on February 25.