The Concacaf Champions Cup 2026 continues on Tuesday with LAFC (Los Angeles FC) hosting Real CD España in the second leg of the First Round at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
The Angelino team comes in with a commanding lead after a 6-1 win in Honduras, a result that leaves them with one foot in the Round of 16. The win was highlighted by a hat-trick from Denis Bouanga and a stellar performance from Son Heung-Min, who registered a goal and three assists on his debut in the competition.
What does Real España need?
The Honduran club faces an extremely complicated mission:
They need to win by at least five goals against LAFC to reverse the series in the Concacaf Champions Cup 2026.
In this phase, the first tie-breaker criterion is away goals.
If the aggregate score is tied after 90 minutes, extra time will be played and, if necessary, a penalty shootout.
The aggregate winner will advance to face LD Alajuelense, reigning CONCACAF Central American Cup champions, in the Round of 16.
Denis Bouanga continues to make history
With the three goals scored in the first leg, Denis Bouanga reached 13 goals in the history of the Concacaf Champions Cup with LAFC, becoming the club’s top scorer in the tournament.
This was his second hat-trick in the competition, after the one he scored on March 9, 2023 against Alajuelense.
He is also the player from any MLS club with the most hat-tricks in the history of the tournament since 1996 (2).
With his 13 goals, he surpassed the 10 that Álvaro Saborío had scored with Real Salt Lake in the competition.
Impact of Son Heung-Min
The South Korean striker also made an immediate impression.
He totaled three assists in a single match, something never before achieved by an LAFC player in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
He also scored his first goal in the tournament.
He became the first South Korean player to score in this competition since the 1994 edition.
LAFC comes in with a commanding lead
QuéOnnda.com
The 6-1 defeat suffered by Real España was the worst home defeat for a Honduran club in the history of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Surpassing the 6-2 Marathón received against Pumas UNAM in 2019.
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