Bran, Bouanga trade goals in LAFC–LD Alajuelense draw | OneFootball

LOS ANGELES – The 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup continued with a 1-1 draw between LAFC and LD Alajuelense in the First Leg of their Round of 16 series on Tuesday at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California, USA.

A right-footed strike from outside the box in the 44’ by Alejandro Bran placed the reigning Concacaf Central American Cup winners in the lead. 

The hosts equalized in the 56’ on a collective play from midfield that found Denis Bouanga in the box, who struck a right-footed hit for the tying goal.

LAFC attempted to complete the comeback in the 80’, with Artem Smoliakov trying a long shot that was wide off the posts. 

The MLS side continued to press but the Alajuelense defensive line held on to leave with the draw. Goalkeeper Washington Ortega finished the night with 10 saves to close a stellar performance.

The two sides will meet again in the Second Leg on Tuesday, when LD Alajuelense hosts LAFC at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica. The winner on aggregate will advance to the Quarterfinals.

Post-Match Data

• LAFC have outscored opponents 17-4 in 10 all-time home matches in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Three of the four goals they have conceded at home in the competition have come against LD Alajuelense (two in the 2023 Round of 16).

• LAFC completed 754 passes against LD Alajuelense, the most by any team in a Concacaf Champions Cup match since at least the 2016-17 season. It surpasses the previous mark of 744 set by San Diego FC against Pumas UNAM in Round One of this season’s competition.

• Alejandro Bran’s 44th-minute goal came on the 13th shot attempt of the match, but it was LD Alajuelense’s first. All three of Bran’s attempts were on target, accounting for all three shots on goal by Alajuelense in the match.

• Denis Bouanga scored his 14th goal in the Concacaf Champions Cup, including his competition-leading fourth of the current edition. His 14 goals are five more than any other player since his debut in the tournament in 2023.

• Son Heung-Min has been directly involved in 22 goals (13 goals, 9 assists) in his first 19 appearances for LAFC across all competitions. Four of his nine assists have set up goals for Denis Bouanga.

• LD Alajuelense goalkeeper Washington Ortega made 10 saves against LAFC, the most by a goalkeeper in a Concacaf Champions Cup match since Jonathan Fonkel made 15 for Robinhood against Herediano in 2024. He is the first goalkeeper to record 10 or more saves in a match in which his team avoided defeat since Luis Robles (13) for New York Red Bulls against Club Tijuana in March 2018.