LAFC and Alajuelense Draw in Champions Cup Round of 16 First Leg

Second Leg Crucial as Away Goals Rule Remains in Effect

Mar. 12, 2026 at 12:49am

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Los Angeles FC played to a 1-1 draw against Alajuelense in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16, but face a challenging second leg away from home. The tie hangs in the balance, with Alajuelense holding a slight advantage due to the away goals rule still being in effect in this competition.

Why it matters

The CONCACAF Champions Cup is the premier club competition in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, offering a direct pathway to the FIFA Club World Cup. The away goals rule adds another layer of complexity to the two-legged tie, placing a premium on scoring goals away from home.

The details

Alajuelense employed a defensive strategy, focusing on minimizing LAFC's opportunities. Despite LAFC dominating possession and outshooting Alajuelense, the Costa Rican side demonstrated efficiency in attack, converting 3 of their 4 shots on target into a goal. LAFC found an equalizer thanks to a well-coordinated play involving Son Heung-Min and Denis Bouanga, with Son providing his seventh assist of the season.

  • The first leg was played on March 12, 2026.
  • The second leg is scheduled for March 18, 2026.

The players

Son Heung-Min

A South Korean professional footballer who plays as a forward for LAFC.

Denis Bouanga

A Gabonese professional footballer who plays as a forward for LAFC.

Hugo Lloris

A French professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for LAFC.

Washington Ortega

The goalkeeper for Alajuelense.

Alajuelense

A professional football club based in Alajuela, Costa Rica, that plays in the Costa Rican Primera División.

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What’s next

The second leg, scheduled for March 18th at Alajuelense's Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, will be crucial. The CONCACAF Champions Cup still utilizes the away goals rule, meaning that Alajuelense's goal in Los Angeles gives them an edge. A 0-0 draw in the second leg would see Alajuelense advance.

The takeaway

This first-leg draw highlights the importance of the away goals rule in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, a competition that offers a direct pathway to the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup. LAFC's ability to secure an away goal could prove crucial in the second leg, as they look to overcome Alajuelense's slight advantage and advance to the next round.