LAFC and LD Alajuelense Draw in Champions Cup Clash
LAFC played LD Alajuelense to a 1-1 draw in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 on March 10, 2026, at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. The match showcased LAFC’s dominance in terms of shots, with a staggering 28 attempts compared to Alajuelense’s mere 4.
Alejandro Bran opened the scoring for Alajuelense in the 44th minute, marking the end of LAFC’s impressive streak of 443 minutes without conceding a goal. However, Denis Bouanga equalized for LAFC in the 56th minute, bringing his total to four goals in the 2026 Champions Cup, making him the tournament’s top scorer.
Despite the draw, LAFC remains unbeaten in 2026, holding a record of 5-0-1, and is 2-0-1 in the Champions Cup this year. Historically, LAFC has qualified for Concacaf play four times and boasts a home record of 7-2-1 in Concacaf competitions.
Marc Dos Santos, LAFC’s coach, expressed a positive outlook despite the draw, stating, “If you’re going to draw or lose a game I prefer it’s us on the front foot and always pushing.” Ryan Hollingshead echoed this sentiment, noting that the team created numerous chances despite the result.
Hollingshead also remarked on the nature of the game, saying, “They had an amazing finish on a volley that I think we would put our money on not happening again, but sometimes that’s football.” He emphasized that the team is focused on the upcoming second leg, stating, “This isn’t time to sound the alarm. We knew going into this that it was 180 minutes. We’re tied and now we gotta go get a result in Costa Rica.”
LAFC will face Alajuelense again on March 17, 2026, for the second leg of the tie in Costa Rica, with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. PT. Observers expect a competitive rematch as both teams vie for advancement in the tournament.