CONCACAF Champions Cup: Late goal lifts LAFC past Alajuelense

Field Level Media|published: Wed 18th March, 24:07 2026

Mar 10, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; LAFC midfielder Mark Delgado (8) and LD Alajuelense midfielder Alejandro Bran (14) battle for the ball in the second half of Concacaf Champions Cup-Round of 16 game at BMO Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

David Martinez blasted a long-range goal in second-half stoppage time on Tuesday, lifting Los Angeles FC past Alajuelense in Alajuela, Costa Rica, in the second leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup round-of-16 series.

LAFC emerged with a 2-1 win on Tuesday, giving them a 3-2 aggregate victory in the two-game, total-goal series. Los Angeles FC will oppose either Monterrey or Cruz Azul in quarterfinals, with the two Mexican rivals completing their series late Tuesday night.

In the second minute of added time at the end of the second half, Martinez received a pass from Mark Delgado, took two touches forward and then bashed a 25-yard left-footed strike into the top right corner of the net.

Alajuelense were in position to advance after Santiago van der Putten scored in the fourth minute, putting the hosts up 2-1 on aggregate. A corner kick led to a scramble in the 6-yard box, and van der Putten eventually headed the ball into the net.

Los Angeles FC pulled level with a 51st-minute goal from Nathan Ordaz. Delgado got his first of two assists on the night, laying the ball off for Ordaz to deliver a left-footed strike from the middle of the 18-yard box.

--Field Level Media

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