LAFC gets by Chivas Guadalajara on penalties in Leagues Cup opener

LAFC’s opening match of the 2026 Leagues Cup tournament against Chivas Guadalajara turned out to the type of match the organizers had hoped for when they first came up with the idea for it.

One of Liga Mx’s most storied and most popular clubs matched up against one of MLS’ premier franchises in LAFC, and the action provided at BMO Stadium on Wednesday night, both on the field and in the stands was nothing short of electric. Denis Bouanga staked LAFC to the lead, only to see Mexican star Roberto Alvarado counter for Chivas, both teams had their chances in the second half, but ultimately, the match was decided on penalties, and LAFC came out on top with the 5-4 shootout win.

LAFC broke through first in the 38th minute. Thomas Hasal sent a goal kick down the right side, Timothy Tillman brought the ball down, then sprung David Martinez forward on the right, Martinez touched into the penalty area, saw Bouanga coming in and thus Martinez played a ball towards him and Bouanga one-timed a right-footed shot past keeper Raul Rangel into the back net.

Chivas however responded shortly after. Luis Romo played a ball down the left side, Bryan Gonzalez brought the ball down, dribbled inside, then found an open Alvarado inside the penalty area, and Alvarado, who started all of Mexico’s games at the World Cup and registered three assists during El Tri’s run, fired a left-footed shot past Hasal, hit off the far post but crossed the goal line for a 42nd minute equalizer.

Both teams had its fair share of chances in the second half. LAFC had the second half’s first best look in the 52nd minute, as Martinez dribbled down the right side, evaded two Chivas defenders as he took the ball to the end line, Martinez still managed to keep the ball in play as he dribbled inside the 18, Martinez took a shot inside the six, but Rangel didn’t flinch, and parried the ball out of play. Another great chance for LAFC came in the 75th minute, as LAFC had a free kick from about 20 yards out just outside the penalty area on the left side, Son Heung-Min looked like he would beat Rangel with a ball towards the near post, but Rangel parried the ball away from goal.

Chivas themselves had several chances themselves, with best chance to grab the lead came in the 70th minute, first Gonzalez dribbled into the penalty area, switched a ball off his left foot the right side of the penalty area to Richard Ledezma, who saw Fernando Gonzalez coming in on the trailer similiar to when Bouanga scored LAFC’s goal, Ledezma played a ball to Gonzalez, who then one-timed a right-footed volley for the upper near post corner, but the ball instead hit off the crossbar. Chivas had one last shot in regulation to steal the win in the 86th minute, as Alvarado snuck in behind the LAFC defense and tracked down a long ball inside the penalty area and sent a header right at goal, but Hasal stopped the shot and LAFC defender Nkosi Tafari cleared the ball over the end line.

In the penalty shootout, LAFC benefitted even before they had taken a penalty, as Chivas’ Kevin Castaneda missed wide left, Bouanga and Tyler Boyd converted their penalties, as did Alvarado and Ricardo Marin for Chivas. The pendulum however swung back towards Chivas when LAFC’s Marky Delgado skied his penalty into the 3252 Supporters Section. Brian Gutierrez converted his penalty to give Chivas the advantage, Mathieu Chioniere converted for LAFC, Luis Gabriel Rey converted to put Chivas in position to win, but Ryan Porteous converted to keep LAFC alive. Hasal then came big for the home side, as he got his left hand on Romo’s attempt to deny him, thus putting LAFC in position to win, and Jude Terry converted on his penalty to give LAFC the dramatic win.

LAFC is back at it on Saturday, as they welcome Toluca.