LAFC and Alajuelense Battle to a Draw in Champions Cup First Leg
LOS ANGELES – The 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 kicked off with a thrilling 1-1 draw between LAFC and LD Alajuelense at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The match, played on March 11th, 2026, leaves the tie wide open heading into the second leg in Costa Rica.
Match Highlights
Alejandro Bran put the reigning Concacaf Central American Cup winners, LD Alajuelense, ahead in the 44th minute with a powerful right-footed strike from outside the box. However, LAFC responded in the 56th minute through Denis Bouanga, who finished off a well-worked midfield play with a clinical right-footed shot.
LAFC pushed for a winner in the closing stages, with Artem Smoliakov testing the goalkeeper with a long-range effort in the 80th minute. Despite their efforts, the Alajuelense defense, anchored by an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Washington Ortega, held firm.
Ortega Shines in Goal
Washington Ortega was the star of the show for Alajuelense, making a remarkable 10 saves throughout the match. This is the most saves by a goalkeeper in a Concacaf Champions Cup match since Jonathan Fonkel’s 15 saves in 2024. Ortega’s heroics ensured Alajuelense left Los Angeles with a valuable draw.
Key Stats & Facts
- LAFC boasts an impressive record of 17 goals scored and only 4 conceded in 10 all-time home matches in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
- LAFC completed a staggering 754 passes, the most by any team in a Concacaf Champions Cup match since at least the 2016-17 season.
- Denis Bouanga has now scored 14 goals in the Concacaf Champions Cup, five more than any other player since his debut in 2023.
- Son Heung-Min has been directly involved in 22 goals (13 goals, 9 assists) in his first 19 appearances for LAFC across all competitions.
Looking Ahead: Second Leg in Costa Rica
The two sides will now travel to Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica, for the second leg on Tuesday. The winner on aggregate will advance to the Quarterfinals. LAFC will need to overcome the away goals disadvantage and secure a win or a high-scoring draw to progress.
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