LD Alajuelense seeks to rally at home against LAFC | OneFootball

MIAMI – The 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup continues with LD Alajuelense hosting Los Angeles FC in the Second Leg of their Round of 16 series on Tuesday at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

LD Alajuelense holds a slight advantage due to its away goal in the 1-1 draw in Los Angeles. Alejandro Bran placed La Liga in the lead in the 44’ with a stunner from long range, before Denis Bouanga equalized for the MLS side in the 56’.

The goal was the first of Bran’s Champions Cup career. The Alajuelense player became the third youngest to score for the club against an opponent from the United States.

Bouanga reached 14 goals in the competition and scored the 450th goal in Round of 16 history in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

Alajuelense looks to build on its advantage at home to advance to the next round. Two-time winners in the tournament, the Costa Rican club last lifted the Champions Cup in 2004. The club is also the reigning Concacaf Central American Cup winner for a third consecutive year.

LAFC is making its fourth appearance in the Round of 16, having advanced on each previous occasion.

The winner of the series on aggregate will advance to the Quarterfinals. Away goals serve as the primary tiebreaker. If necessary, extra time and a penalty shootout will decide the winner.

How Have MLS Teams Fared After Drawing the First Leg at Home?

The draw against LD Alajuelense was the second home draw in a first-leg match for Los Angeles FC. In the previous case, the club won the series against Philadelphia Union in the 2023 Semifinals (1-1 in the first leg on Apr-26-2023, and a 3-0 win in the second leg on May-2-2023).

Overall, it was the seventh draw between United States and Central American clubs in any stage of the Concacaf Champions Cup. Only two clubs advanced:

NY Pancyprian Freedoms vs CDS Vida (HON) in the 1984 North and Central America Third Round (1-1 first leg Sep-29-1984, 2-2 second leg Oct-2-1984)

DC United vs CD Luis Ángel Firpo (SLV) in the 2009-10 Preliminary Round (1-1 first leg Jul-28-2009, 1-1 second leg Aug-4-2009, PSO 4-5).

Four clubs were eliminated:

Sporting Kansas City vs Saprissa (CRC) in the 2004-05 Quarterfinals

New England Revolution vs LD Alajuelense (CRC) in the 2005-06 Quarterfinals

LA Galaxy vs Saprissa (CRC) in the 2005-06 Quarterfinals

Houston Dynamo vs Saprissa (CRC) in the 2007-08 Semifinals

*All first-leg draws were scoreless.

How Has LD Alajuelense Fared After Drawing the First Leg?

The draw marked the seventh first-leg draw for LD Alajuelense in any series in Concacaf Champions Cup history. The club has been eliminated only once, by CD Olimpia (HON) in the Semifinals of the 1988 edition (1-1 first leg Nov-27-1988, 2-1 loss in the second leg Dec-4-1988).

Alajuelense has advanced five times after drawing the first leg:

vs Olimpia (HON) in the 1971 Central America First Round

vs Juventud Retalteca (GUA) in the 1986 Central America First Round

vs CSD Municipal (GUA) in the 1992 North and Central America First Round

vs Saprissa (CRC) in the 2003-04 Final

vs New England Revolution (USA) in the 2005-06 Quarterfinals.

CCC Round of 16 Team Record 

LD AlajuelensePenalty shootout appearances: (2). (Win). (5-3 vs. CD Luis Ángel Firpo in the North & Central America 3rd Round, Group 1 of the 1992 edition after a 2-2 aggregate score: 0-1 and 1-2) (Win). (4-5 vs. Chicago Fire in the Semifinals of the 1999 edition in a single match after a 1-1 draw).Hat-tricks (since 1991): (2). José Pastor Fernández (CRC) vs. Plaza Amador (1991 Central Zone First Round), Froylán “el cachorro” Ledezma (CRC) vs. CS Moulien (Matchday 2, Final Quadrangular for the Title of 1995).Round of 16 appearances: 7 (2002 vs. CF América, 2002-2003 vs. New England Revolution, 2021 vs. Atlanta United, 2023 vs. Los Angeles FC, 2024 vs. New England Revolution, 2025 vs. Pumas UNAM, 2026 vs. Los Angeles FC).Record in R16 history: GP-13 W-4 D-3 L-6 (GF-13 GA-18).Top scorers in R16: Rolando Fonseca (CRC) 3, Érick Scott (CRC) 2.

Los Angeles FCPenalty shootout appearances: (0).Hat-tricks: (2). Denis Bouanga (GAB) vs. LD Alajuelense (2023 Round of 16), vs. Real España (2026 Round One).Round of 16 appearances: 4 (2020 vs. Club León, 2023 vs. LD Alajuelense, 2025 vs. Columbus Crew, 2026 vs. LD Alajuelense).Record in R16 history: GP-7 W-3 D-1 L-3 (GF-12 GA-7).Top scorers in R16: Denis Bouanga (GAB) 7, Carlos Vela (MEX) 3.Comebacks in the Round of 16: (1). (In the 2020 edition vs. Club León after winning 3-2 on aggregate: L 2-0, W 3-0).