LAFC starts off 2026 with Champions Cup win

The new year for LAFC is off with a bang.

While it was not the official season opener, LAFC nevertheless seized the initiative in its CONCACAF Champions Cup opener against Real Espana on Tuesday night. Led by Denis Bouanga, LAFC rode a monstrous five-goal first half in San Pedro Sula, and eventually left Honduras with a 6-1 win.

Bouanga once again was the stalwart, as he recorded a hat trick in the match, though he was hardly alone. Son-Heung Min, Timothy Tillman and David Martinez scored goals as well, as LAFC put themselves well into position to advance to the round of 16 against Costa Rica’s Alajualense.

LAFC wasted no time in getting going in the match. Just seconds in, David Martinez was tackled from behind by Juan Capuleto inside the penalty area, referee Marco Ortiz awarded the penalty, and Bouanga converted in the second minute to open the scoring. LAFC scored by conventional means in the 11th minute, as Son-Heung Min dribbled through the Real Espana defense, played Martinez into the penalty area, Martinez managed to keep himself onside as he curled a left-footed shot past keeper Luis Lopez far post.

LAFC once again found themselves at the penalty spot moments later, as Bouanga was fouled by Carlos Mejia inside the penalty area and Ortiz again signaled LAFC to the penalty spot. This one however took a little longer to materialize, as Oritz got the call from VAR to take a second look, and Ortiz concluded that Mejia impeding Bouanga with his left foot was harsh enough that the foul call stood. This time, it was Son who stepped up to the spot, and he converted in the 21st minute.

Believe it or not, LAFC still was not done. Bouanga made it a brace in the 24th minute, as he received a pass from Son, and he slotted a sliding right-footed shot past Lopez into the back net. Tillman capped off LAFC’s magical first half in the 39th minute, as Bouanga played a ball to Son inside the penalty area, Son played a ball into the six-yard box and Tillman back-heeled a ball past Lopez into the back net.

Espana tried to show it would not simply be cannon fodder on its home field. Jack Jean-Baptiste pulled a goal back for the Honduran side in the 50th minute, as he headed a Jhow Benavidez free kick into the back net to end LAFC’s shutout chances. LAFC was hardly deterred, and restored the five-goal advantage in the 71st minute, as Shane Palencia crossed into the penalty area, and a dummy by Nathan Ordaz left Bouanga free to slot a right-footed shot past Lopez near post to get his hat trick.

LAFC not turns its attention to the MLS season opener, and it is a doozy. as they host Lionel Messi and the reigning MLS Cup champion Inter Miami at the LA Coliseum on Saturday evening.