The 2026 season is officially underway for LAFC, as they hit the road and took the pitch this evening against Honduran side Real España for leg one of the Concacaf Champions Cup tie. There is a lot of newness around the team coming into the season, with a new head coach in Marc Dos Santos, some fresh new faces that saw some action tonight, but one thing that doesn’t change too much for this club are the expectations. After coming tantalizingly close to winning it all a couple of times in the past, LAFC came into this match looking to not just win, but make a statement that this is very much their win to get over the Champions Cup hump.
The Starting XI for #RESvLAFC#LAFC | @TheChampions pic.twitter.com/kcjKROCoTo
— LAFC (@LAFC) February 18, 2026
Two minutes. That’s all it took before LAFC found the back of the net and took the lead. Despite coming into this match fresh off the preseason, with the home side already a handful of matches into their domestic season, it was Los Angeles who came out looking like the side already in mid-season form. A great attack saw David Martínez dribble into the opposing box and the defense was a bit too anxious with their tackling, bringing the youngster down in the box for a penalty in the opening two minutes and a prime opportunity for LA to take the very early lead. Denis Bouanga stepped up to the spot, sent the goalkeeper one way, and calmly slotted it into the opposite corner for his first goal of the new campaign, giving his side the lead in the second minute of the match.
Off to a quick start 🔥
Denis Bouanga with our first goal of 2026.pic.twitter.com/RELno8Xy0o
— LAFC (@LAFC) February 18, 2026
That was just the beginning to what would be an incredible first half for the black & gold. It didn’t take long before Los Angeles was doubling their lead with some precise passing as their usual fluid attack started to show itself as the match unfolded. In the 11th minute, Heung-Min Son went right at the España defense and after streaking past a few defenders, he put on a fantastic threaded pass that found David Martinez on the run. Martinez didn’t waste any time and he curled the ball with a beautiful finesse shot that got past the keeper to double the lead early.
Sonny slides it through for David Martínez 💎pic.twitter.com/76iOVXE7VG
— LAFC (@LAFC) February 18, 2026
The floodgates were opened and LAFC were more than happy to really emphasis the statement they were hoping to make this evening. Another dangerous attack ended with Los Angeles being awarded a penalty and while this one went to a pretty lengthy VAR review at the monitor, it was eventually upheld and this time it was Sonny who stepped up to the spot. His shot wasn’t the most convincing, but it had just enough pace to get past the post and more importantly, past the keeper for his first goal of the 2026 campaign, making it 3-0.
First of many for Sonny in 2026 👏pic.twitter.com/MZpmjlbobe
— LAFC (@LAFC) February 18, 2026
Looking to wrap up the series not just in the first leg, but in the first half of the first leg, LAFC found a fourth goal before we even hit the 30th minute mark. Just two minutes after Son scored his penalty, the attack was once again ripping apart the España defense. As was often the case last season, Son found himself in the opposition box, and instead of taking the shot himself, found Bouanga who slid into the shot, sending it past the keeper and into the corner for the fourth goal of the night and his brace.
Perhaps the best goal of the night came in the 39th minute. Bouanga took on the defense along the flanks, making an excellent run, sent a beautiful ball clear to the other side that found Son who was in a bit of an awkward angle and instead of trying the tough shot he put the ball right back into the middle of the box where Timothy Tillman was waiting and didn’t just score, but gave us a backheel flick that cooly found the back of the net for the fifth, and final goal, of the first half.
The pass 🚀
The cross 🎯
The layoff 🧠
The finish 🥶pic.twitter.com/mrk2USIyxy— LAFC (@LAFC) February 18, 2026
The second half saw some changes from the home side, who were just trying to make the scoreline a lot more respectable. España talked pregame about the importance of set pieces and in the 50th minute showed why after a great free kick into the box ended with a glancing header that found the back of the net to pull one back for the Honduran club.
Real España descuenta. pic.twitter.com/EaLg7I31bT
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) February 18, 2026
While a majority of the second half was LAFC in full on controlling the match mode, happy to keep possession and just work down the clock, they didn’t ease up in the slightest. In the 71st minute Denis Bouanga secured his hat trick and pushed the lead back to five goals after a great pass across the front of goal found him for an easy tap in finish to make it 6-1.
Not only was this a statement win for LAFC, but it was an outright bullying. They were able to get the early goal fast and never let up. Their attack picked up right where it left off to close out the season last year, and unlike the slow start they suffered to start the previous season, it looks like they are keen to start the winning run early. They now take a five goal lead into the second leg at home, which takes place next week.
Thoughts on the big win to open up the season? Drop a comment below!