MIAMI, Florida – Los Angeles FC will be out to avoid any surprises in the second leg of their 2023 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 series against Alajuelense of Costa Rica on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
The reigning MLS Cup champions pocketed a 3-0 win in the first leg in Costa Rica on the strength of a Denis Bouanga hat trick to take control of the two-legged tie.
It will be just the second SCCL match at home for LAFC, who topped Club Leon of Mexico 3-0 in front of their home fans in the Round of 16 of the 2020 tournament.
While Bouanga got the majority of the headlines in last Thursday’s win in Costa Rica, one of the other heroes was DF Ryan Hollingshead, who supplied the assists on the first two Bouanga goals.
LAFC can also turn to star FW Carlos Vela and fellow attacker Kwadwo Opoku for scoring. Vela has five career SCCL goals, while Opoku scored a game-winning goal in LAFC’s 2-1 win against Cruz Azul in the 2020 quarterfinals.
Alajuelense have a rich history in the SCCL and their semifinal run in the 2014-15 edition produced a result against an MLS side that they would love to achieve again on Wednesday night.
In the home quarterfinal leg against DC United, Alajuelense were 5-2 winners and that scoreline on Wednesday against LAFC would be enough for the Ticos to advance.
GK Leonel Moreira made nine saves in the first leg and will be called on to try to secure a clean sheet, while MF Alexander Lopez will need to pull the strings in midfield. The Honduran playmaker completed 52 passes, had two shots and made five ball recoveries in the first leg.
Game Notes, Stats LAFC vs LDA
Referee: Adonai Escobedo (MEX)
AR1 Jorge Sanchez (MEX) AR2 Enrique Bustos (MEX)
4th Official Victor Caceres (MEX)
VAR Eric Miranda (MEX)
AVAR Eduardo Galvan (MEX)
