Under the bright California sun at BMO Stadium, the anticipation was palpable as LAFC faced off against Liga Deportiva Alajuelense in the first leg of the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16 on March 11, 2026. Fans settled in for a clash that promised drama, intensity, and a showcase of international football talent. As the whistle blew, all eyes were on Son Heung-min, LAFC’s marquee signing, who was searching for his elusive first field goal of the season and hoping to propel his team further in North America’s premier club competition.
LAFC, riding high on a five-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, had entered the tournament with momentum and a point to prove. Their journey to the knockout stage had been emphatic: a 7-1 aggregate demolition of Honduras’ Real Espana in the opening round, including a 6-1 rout and a narrow 1-0 win. This success marked the club’s fourth appearance in the Champions Cup, having previously reached the finals in 2020 and 2023 and the quarterfinals in 2025. Earning their spot as last season’s Leagues Cup third-place finishers, LAFC was determined to finally lift the continental trophy that had so far eluded them.
The stakes were high against Alajuelense, a Costa Rican powerhouse with a storied history—29 Champions Cup appearances, two titles, and a staggering 31 domestic league championships. Despite LAFC’s recent dominance in Major League Soccer, this was no ordinary opponent. As kickoff approached, LAFC’s coach Mark Dos Santos sent out a strong lineup, opting for a 4-2-3-1 formation. Son Heung-min led the line as the lone striker, supported by Denis Buanga, Amin Buddri, and Timothy Tillman across the attacking midfield. The midfield duo of Mathieu Chouaibier and Marco Delgado provided the engine, while the defense featured Sergi Palencia, Ryan Forteus, Nkosi Tapari, and Ryan Hollingshead, with veteran Hugo Lloris guarding the net.
There was a buzz about Son Heung-min’s form. The Korean star, who had joined LAFC to great fanfare, had notched one goal (from the penalty spot) and six assists in five official matches this season—a solid return, but fans and pundits alike were eager to see him score from open play. The pressure was mounting after a recent match against Dallas, where Son found himself embroiled in controversy. After a collision in the box with Dallas goalkeeper Michael Kolodi, Son was shown a yellow card for simulation—a so-called ‘Hollywood action’ that left both player and coach frustrated. "When the situation first happened, I thought it was a penalty," admitted coach Mark Dos Santos. "But after seeing Son’s reaction, I realized it wasn’t. Still, it’s hard for me to answer exactly what the player was thinking."
As the match began, LAFC quickly found themselves under pressure. Alajuelense, true to their reputation, pressed high and forced the hosts onto the back foot. The first half unfolded as a tense chess match, with Son and his attacking partners Denis Buanga (on the left) and Timothy Tillman (on the right) forming a dynamic front three in the 4-3-3 shape that LAFC had used with success. Yet, despite flashes of promise, LAFC struggled to break down the Costa Rican defense, and Son was tightly marked by Alajuelense’s disciplined backline.
The breakthrough came late in the first half, but not for LAFC. In the 44th minute, Alexander Bran found space and fired home for Alajuelense, handing the visitors a 1-0 lead and silencing the home crowd. LAFC trudged into the halftime break trailing, knowing they needed a spark to turn the tide. The tension was thick—could Son Heung-min, still seeking his first field goal, be the difference maker?
After the interval, LAFC emerged with renewed energy, and it didn’t take long for the ‘Heung-Bu Duo’ to make their mark. In the 56th minute (the 11th minute of the second half), Son drifted into the arc just outside the penalty area and delivered a perfectly weighted pass to the left for Denis Buanga. Buanga took a touch, fired a right-footed shot, and, with a slice of fortune, the ball deflected off a defender and nestled into the back of the net. The stadium erupted—LAFC were level at 1-1, and Son had racked up his eighth attacking point of the season. "Son Heung-min connected from the arc box area to Buanga on the left, whose deflected shot found the goal," reported Newsis.
With the score tied and the match still wide open, the intensity only grew. Son, buoyed by his latest assist, pressed forward in search of that long-awaited field goal—a second of the season that would break his open-play drought. Each touch from the Korean forward drew anticipation from the crowd, and Alajuelense’s defenders were on high alert. The midfield battle raged, with Chouaibier and Delgado working tirelessly to win back possession, while Lloris marshaled his defense against the occasional Costa Rican counterattack.
For Alajuelense, the equalizer was a gut punch, but their pedigree was evident as they refused to sit back. With two Champions Cup titles and nearly three decades of continental experience, the Costa Rican side continued to probe for weaknesses in LAFC’s back line. The match remained finely poised, both teams knowing that a single moment could swing the tie ahead of the decisive second leg.
It’s worth noting just how far LAFC have come in a short span. Since their founding, they’ve become a force in MLS and are now considered the league’s strongest team, especially after their current five-match winning streak. Their Champions Cup ambitions are clear, and with stars like Son Heung-min and experienced leaders such as Hugo Lloris, expectations are sky-high. Yet, as this contest showed, nothing comes easy at this level.
As the clock ticked on, Son and his teammates pushed for a winner. The energy in BMO Stadium was electric, every attack met with roars and every defensive stand with anxious silence. With the match still ongoing at the time of reporting, the score stood at 1-1, and both sides remained locked in a fierce battle for supremacy. LAFC’s quest for continental glory—and Son Heung-min’s pursuit of his first field goal—will continue to captivate fans as the Champions Cup drama unfolds.
For now, the story remains unfinished, with everything to play for in the return leg. One thing’s certain: LAFC and Alajuelense have delivered a contest worthy of the Champions Cup’s rich history, and all eyes will be on the next chapter.