LAFC and LD Alajuelense Draw in CONCACAF Champions Cup
LAFC and LD Alajuelense played to a 1-1 tie in the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 match held at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on March 10, 2026. Despite dominating the match with 31 shot attempts, LAFC was unable to secure a win.
Denis Bouanga scored LAFC’s equalizer in the 56th minute, responding to Alejandro Bran’s opening goal for Alajuelense, which came in the 43rd minute. The match highlighted LAFC’s offensive prowess, as they recorded 13 shots on target compared to Alajuelense’s 3.
LAFC maintained possession for 76% of the match and completed 788 passes, significantly outpacing Alajuelense’s 224. However, the Costa Rican side’s goalkeeper, Washington Ortega, was instrumental in the draw, making 12 saves and earning the title of man of the match.
LAFC’s Hugo Lloris made 2 saves during the encounter, marking the first goal conceded by the team since February 17, 2026. The match attracted an audience of 11,275 spectators, who witnessed a competitive clash.
Marc Dos Santos, LAFC’s head coach, expressed confidence despite the draw, stating, “Draws like this, nine out of 10 times we’re going to win games like that.” Ryan Hollingshead acknowledged Alajuelense’s effort, saying, “I don’t want to not give [Alajuelense] credit. I think they worked really hard. They created nothing.”
Denis Bouanga reflected on the team’s mindset, commenting, “We have confidence to go there. We have our heads up.” This match serves as a reminder of LAFC’s previous encounter with Alajuelense, where they won the second leg of the Round of 16 in 2023 but were eliminated on aggregate.
Looking ahead, LAFC will travel to Costa Rica for the second leg of the matchup, where they will aim to secure a spot in the next round of the tournament. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact date and venue for this upcoming match.