LAFC 1-1 LD ALAJUELENSE
Mar 10, 2026
Att.: 11,275 • BMO Stadium
LOS ANGELES — A tense night at BMO Stadium saw Los Angeles FC settle for a 1–1 draw against Costa Rica’s LD Alajuelense in the first leg of their Round of 16 matchup in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Despite controlling possession and dominating the attacking statistics, LAFC were forced to chase the game after the visitors struck first late in the opening half.
Alajuelense midfielder Alejandro Bran stunned the home crowd in the 44th minute, scoring from distance to give the Costa Rican side the lead heading into halftime.
LAFC responded with urgency after the break. The Black & Gold continued to push forward, piling up chances and shots on goal as the pressure mounted.
Their breakthrough came in the 56th minute, when Denis Bouanga found the equalizer after a pass from Son Heung-Min, bringing the stadium back to life and leveling the match at 1–1.
LAFC dominated the attacking numbers throughout the night, outshooting Alajuelense by a wide margin, but the Costa Rican side’s defensive organization and key saves prevented the hosts from finding a winner.
In the closing minutes, LAFC continued to press forward with several late attempts and set pieces, yet the Alajuelense defense held firm.
The final whistle left the tie even at 1–1, setting up a decisive second leg in Costa Rica where both teams will battle for a place in the quarterfinals.
- Joao Portugal
