LAFC are preparing to face L.D. Alajuelense at BMO Stadium in the first match of their two-game series in the Round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
LAFC are coming off a 1-0 victory over FC Dallas in MLS regular-season play. The Black & Gold extended their franchise-record streak of five straight wins to start a season. David Martínez scored a 55th-minute goal.
Alajuelense: A Familiar Foe
Costa Rican club Alajuelense face LAFC in CCC play for the second time in history. Alajuelense are also known as Los Leones or Rojinegros.
In 2023, LAFC advanced past Alajuelense 4-2 on aggregate to advance to the CCC Quarterfinals. Denis Bouanga scored his first career hat trick for the Black & Gold in that match. LAFC won the first leg in Costa Rica 3-0.
Alajuelense outscored LAFC 2-1 in Los Angeles a week later. LAFC moved on to face Vancouver in the 2023 CCC Quarterfinal.
LAFC’s Road to the Final
LAFC defeated the Whitecaps 6-0 on aggregate. They then got past Philadelphia Union 4-1 on aggregate. LAFC met Club Leon of Liga MX in the Final, where LAFC’s run ended, 3-1. It was LAFC’s second trip to the CCC Final.
Midfielder Timmy Tillman played in both matches against Alajuelense in ’23. He said that winning Concacaf for the first time would be a great story. He added that the team must focus on every single game.
Looking Ahead to the Second Leg
The two clubs will meet again next week in Costa Rica for the second leg. The winner on aggregate goals advances to a Quarterfinal matchup against the winner of the Round of 16 series between Cruz Azul and Monterrey.
Dos Santos said that they have to take care of the first leg in the best way possible. This is to put them in a position to go to a very difficult place. He noted the atmosphere in Costa Rica and said that they have to set themselves up in the right way to succeed.
BMO Stadium opens its doors to the world. LAFC welcomes L.D. Alajuelense to LA on Tuesday night for the first match in their two-game, home-and-away series in the Round of 16 of Concacaf Champions Cup.