Son Heung-min Aims to End Goal Drought in CONCACAF Champions Cup LAFC’s star player, Son Heung-min, is set to resume his goal-scoring campaign in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup. Despite leading the team’s attack early in the season with assists, he has struggled to find the back of the net in his last four matches, raising questions about his ability to regain his scoring form in the tournament. The South Korean forward will face Costa Rica’s LD Alajuelense in the Round of 16 first leg at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on March 11 (Korean time). The CONCACAF Champions Cup holds immense significance for LAFC, which reached the finals in 2020 and 2023 but fell short both times. The club sees this season as a chance to secure its first title in the competition. As the premier club tournament in North and Central America and the Caribbean, the Champions Cup offers a pathway to the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, with 27 teams from CONCACAF member nations participating. LD Alajuelense, the reigning CONCACAF Central American Cup champions, will be a formidable opponent, though LAFC holds an edge based on recent form. LAFC has extended its official match-winning streak to five after a 6-1 victory over Real España in the first leg of the Champions Cup last month. The team has demonstrated strong defensive discipline, conceding no goals in their last four matches. Son Heung-min, the team’s attacking focal point, has been instrumental in this stability. With one goal and six assists in official matches this season, he has driven LAFC’s offensive efforts. His aggressive pressing and movement upfront have disrupted opponents’ buildups, contributing to the team’s four consecutive clean sheets. However, Son’s recent goal drought has sparked concerns.#lafc #ld_alajuelense #son_heung_min #concacaf_champions_cup #bmo_stadium
Bran, Bouanga trade goals in LAFC–LD Alajuelense draw 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 44th minute by Alejandro Bran gave the reigning Concacaf Central American Cup winners the lead. The hosts equalized in the 56th minute through a collective play from midfield that found Denis Bouanga in the box, who struck a right-footed shot for the tying goal. LAFC attempted a comeback in the 80th minute with Artem Smoliakov attempting a long-range shot that missed the target. The MLS side pressed throughout the second half, but LD Alajuelense’s defensive line held firm. Goalkeeper Washington Ortega finished the match with 10 saves, delivering a standout performance. The two teams will meet again in the Second Leg on Tuesday, with LD Alajuelense hosting LAFC at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica. The team that wins on aggregate will advance to the Quarterfinals. 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). The MLS side completed 754 passes against LD Alajuelense, the highest number by any team in a Concacaf Champions Cup match since at least the 2016-17 season. This surpassed the previous record 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.#alejandro_bran #denis_bouanga #lafc #ld_alajuelense #washington_ortega
