LAFC Advances in Champions Cup, Faces Alajuelense in Round of 16
Los Angeles Football Club secured their place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup with a 1-0 victory over Real España on Tuesday night at BMO Stadium. The win completed a 7-1 aggregate-goal triumph for LAFC in the two-leg, Round One series.
Tafari’s First Goal Propels LAFC
Defender Nkosi Tafari scored the game-winning goal in the 64th minute, marking his first goal for the Black & Gold since joining the club in January 2025. The goal came from close range, a left-footed shot into the roof of the net following a LAFC free kick.
Dos Santos Rotates Squad
Head coach Marc Dos Santos made seven changes to the starting lineup from LAFC’s 3-0 win against Inter Miami just 72 hours prior. Tafari, along with forwards Son Heung-Min and Denis Bouanga, and midfielder Stephen Eustáquio were the only players to start in both matches.
A Tight First Half
The first half saw limited scoring opportunities for either side. A notable chance came from a through-ball by Amin Boudri to forward Tyler Boyd, whose shot was saved by Real España goalkeeper Luis Lopez.
Second-Half Breakthrough
Dos Santos introduced Nathan Ordaz, Timmy Tillman, and 17-year-old Jude Terry (making his first-team debut for LAFC) at the start of the second half, replacing Bouanga, Son, and Eustáquio. Tafari’s goal arrived in the 64th minute, capitalizing on a free kick opportunity.
Hasal’s Crucial Save
In the 87th minute, LAFC defender Kenny Nielsen was penalized for a foul, resulting in a penalty kick for Real España. However, goalkeeper Thomas Hasal, starting in place of Hugo Lloris, saved Jhow Benavidez’s attempt, preserving LAFC’s lead.
Next Up: L.D. Alajuelense
LAFC will now face L.D. Alajuelense of Costa Rica in the Round of 16. The first leg will be played at BMO Stadium on Tuesday, March 10, with the second leg taking place on Tuesday, March 17, at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Costa Rica. Kickoff times for both matches will be announced at a later date.
Upcoming MLS Match
Before the Champions Cup resumes, LAFC will play a regular season MLS match against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, February 28, at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on Apple TV, with radio coverage on 710 AM ESPN LA, 980 AM La Mera Mera, and K-Radio 1230 AM. Fans in Korea can watch on Coupang Play and SPOTV.
LAFC’s Champions Cup Record
Tuesday night’s win marked LAFC’s 12th all-time in Concacaf play, boasting an overall record of 12W-8L-1D. At home, LAFC is 7W-2L-0D, having secured seven clean sheets and outscoring opponents 16-3 in those nine games.
Denis Bouanga and Timmy Tillman both made their 16th Champions Cup appearance for LAFC, extending their shared lead for the most Champions Cup appearances in club history.
LAFC previously faced L.D. Alajuelense in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 in 2023, winning the first leg 3-0 in Costa Rica thanks to a hat trick from Bouanga. Alajuelense won the second leg 2-1 in Los Angeles, but LAFC advanced 4-2 on aggregate, eventually reaching the 2023 Concacaf Final.
Over the past two years, LAFC has been undefeated at home in Champions Cup play, defeating the Colorado Rapids (1-0), Columbus Crew (3-0), and Inter Miami (1-0) at BMO Stadium before Tuesday’s win over Real España.