With their backs against the wall, LAFC now face the toughest test of the young season. While the score is even on aggregate at 1-1, Alajuelense were able to net the all-important away goal in their trip to Los Angeles, giving them the slight advantage coming into this match. However, if there’s one thing LAFC do well, it’s score. Now, we see if they truly have shaken off the rough patches away from home as they look to put in a big performance tonight.
Estamos listos 🫡 pic.twitter.com/Vz2UmfNNpS
— LAFC (@LAFC) March 17, 2026
Knowing they had to score a goal to push it to extra time at the very least, it was expected LAFC would come out on the front foot, looking for an early goal. However, it was the home side Alajuelense that came out putting the pressure on, knowing they wouldn’t do well in a match that saw them just sit back and absorb the pressure. In just four minutes the home side was able to get the ball into the box, get a shot off, and after an initial save along with a few bounces around players, it was defender Santiago van der Putten who got his head on it to knock it past Hugo Lloris for the early goal, sending shockwaves throughout the stadium.
¡Se rompe el empate en Alajuela! 💥 pic.twitter.com/GNBnyulPfd
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) March 18, 2026
The silver lining for Los Angeles was that, we already knew they needed a goal to try and push extra time at the very least if they didn’t win it with a clean sheet. Now, they had to make sure they didn’t dig a deeper hole and concede a second before finding their equalizer. After getting hit in the mouth early, the response was quick as Los Angeles settled into the match and through 25 minutes were the ones controlling proceedings. While the goal had yet to come, they were definitely knocking on the door and creeping closer to that crucial equalizer.
Despite LAFC coming close to an equalizer on a handful of occasions, they were not able to find it before the halftime whistle blew. Now, they faced a very important second half. Los Angeles needed a goal, without conceding, just to push the match to extra time. A second goal would give them the win and push them into the next round, but they needed to find the first one before any thoughts of advancing crossed their minds.
The start of the second half was spicy right from the start with tensions rising from both sides. Heung-Min Son earned a yellow card for his part in a scuffle that broke out between the two sides and that seemed to really spark Los Angeles even more. Just moments after all the pushing and shoving, it was LAFC who finally struck and got the goal they had been working towards. A great pass from Denis Bouanga found the young Nathan Ordaz, who needed just one touch to send it flying past the outstretched keeper for the equalizer in the 51st minute.
Ordaz finds the equalizer for LAFC! ⚽ pic.twitter.com/s3mhzhr749
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) March 18, 2026
The match settled down a lot once LAFC found the equalizer. Alajuelense were a bit timid to go for it as recklessly as they were before, knowing a second goal for LA all but sealed their elimination, while the black & gold were tightening the screws on the match. They continued to control the match while looking for the winner, coming close several times but were unable to find the final piece needed to get the ball into the back of the net.
Just when it looked like regulation would end with both teams even at one, with the prospect of extra time looking more and more likely, it was LAFC forward David Martinez who came up massive and called game. Given way too much space, and with enough time to think it through, as time waned in stoppage time, it was Martinez who let it fly with a strike that was hit as pure as possible as it screamed top shelf and into the back of the net for the winning goal.
Martínez delivers a stunning winner for LAFC! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/67yqCQR4S5
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) March 18, 2026
Not only winning the match, but the goal sent LAFC past Alajuelense and into the Concacaf Champions Cup Quarterfinals. It was a grind, but LA does enough to survive and advance. Now, the team can head back to the states with their heads held high and even more momentum to carry them into yet another match in just a few days as they travel to Texas to take on Austin FC in MLS play.
Thoughts on the last second win for LAFC? Drop a line in the comments below!