Fans of LAFC already knew they would have to wait for their first look at new midfield signing Jose Cifuentes, who is a part of Ecuador's contingent at the 2020 CONMEBOL Olympic Qualifying tournament in Colombia.
They will hope that wait isn't even longer after the 20-year-old exited Tuesday's 4-0 loss to the hosts with what observers were calling an apparent quadriceps injury.
After making his first start and second appearance in the tournament, Cifuentes had to be stretched off in the 71st minute with his side trailing 3-0.
Two LAFC teammates — center back Eddie Segura and holding midfielder Eduard Atuesta — also featured, playing the full 90 in Colombia's clean sheet.
Cifuentes signed with LAFC from Ecuador's America de Quito on January 13. He's perhaps best known for his starring role in Ecuador's run to a third-place finish at the 2019 FIFA Under-20 World Cup. In the process, his long-distance strike against the United States eventually earned goal of the tournament honors.
Cifuentes is one of five LAFC players currently in Colombia for the tournament that will decide South America's two representatives at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, joining Segura and Atuesta as well as Uruguay's Diego Rossi and Francisco Ginella.
