Punchy & Specific Headline:
Los Angeles overcame a first-half deficit to claim victory on the road and advance.
Completing a second-half comeback, David Martínez's dramatic goal in stoppage time secured a 2-1 LAFC win over Alajuelense to advance to the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals 3-2 on aggregate. Los Angeles is now 3-0-0 in its away matches in Champions Cup play this year. L.
A. headed into the final 45 minutes facing a 1-0 deficit before scores from Nathan Ordaz and Martínez lifted them to victory on the road. The Black & Gold have now reached the quarterfinals in consecutive years, as well as all four times that they have participated in the tournament.
Martínez made the most of the three stoppage time minutes awarded, firing from well beyond the box with a left-footed strike that sailed past Alajuelense goalkeeper Washington Ortega and into the right corner of the net. The 20-year-old, who replaced Ordaz in the 64th minute, earned his second goal in Concacaf play this year. MATCH WINNER FROM DAVID MARTÍNEZ 🇻🇪💎 pic.
twitter. com/AKWLoEqGIa — LAFC (@LAFC) March 18, 2026 After Denis Bouanga's 87th-minute shot clanged off the crossbar, the sighs of relief in the crowd only lasted so long. Martínez left the Costa Rican fans stunned as Alajuelense crumbled in the clutch.