Key Takeaways: Quarterfinals First Leg Matches of 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup | OneFootball

MIAMI – Following the First Leg matches in the Round of 16 of the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, it’s time to review the Key Takeaways from the seventh week of the competition.

 LAFC becomes first U.S. club to defeat the defending champions

Los Angeles FC secured a key result with a 3-nil win over reigning champions Cruz Azul in its first leg encounter. A brilliant brace by young attacker David Martínez, and a goal from Son Heung-Min guided the California side to victory. 

The win saw LAFC become the first club from the United States to defeat a defending champion in tournament history. 

Ozziel Herrera becomes Tigres’ top scorer against U.S. clubs  

The first leg of its series saw Tigres UANL claim a 2-nil win against Seattle Sounders FC. Ozziel Herrera made history by opening the scoring in the 51’, reaching seven goals against MLS opposition, becoming the Mexican player with the most goals for Tigres against teams from the United States in the modern era of the tournament.

Global stars score in the Champions Cup

The first leg encounters in the Quarterfinals presented goals by three different global stars.

Marco Reus recorded both his first goal and assist ever in the competition in LA Galaxy’s 4-2 loss against Toluca. 

Paulinho bagged a historic hat-trick for Toluca in the match. With his three goals, the Portuguese forward took his tally to four this edition. In doing so, he became the fifth player in tournament history to score a hat-trick in the Quarterfinal stage, the first European to achieve the feat, and the first Toluca player to accomplish the feat.

Additionally, winger Son Heung-Min opened the scoring in LAFC’s 3-nil win at home over reigning champions Cruz Azul.  

Gabriel Pec bags sixth goal, achieves milestone  

With his goal for the Galaxy in the First Leg against Toluca, Brazilian attacker Gabriel Pec reached six goals this 2026 edition and continues leading the race for the Top Scorer Award.

Additionally, Pec became just the second player to score at least six goals across a span of three appearances in the competition over the last decade, joining Salomón Rondón who achieved the feat with Pachuca in 2024.

 Toluca scores four past a U.S. club for the second time in this edition 

Toluca’s 4-2 First Leg win over the LA Galaxy saw the current Liga MX champions score four goals against teams from the United States twice in a single edition for the first time. Toluca achieved a 4-nil victory over San Diego FC (Second Leg, Round of 16, March 18, 2026), followed by the aforementioned win against the Galaxy.