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    LAFC stuns Alajuelense late to reach CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals
    • March 18, 2026

    ALAJUELA, Costa Rica — David Martinez blasted a long-range goal in second-half stoppage time on Tuesday night, lifting LAFC past LD Alajuelense, 2-1, in the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup Round-of-16 series.

    LAFC’s win on Tuesday gave the club a 3-2 aggregate victory in the two-game, total-goal series. LAFC will oppose either Monterrey or Cruz Azul in quarterfinals, with the two Mexican rivals completing their series late Tuesday night.

    In the second minute of added time at the end of the second half, Martinez received a pass from Mark Delgado, took two touches forward and then bashed a 25-yard left-footed strike into the top right corner of the net.

    Alajuelense was in position to advance after Santiago van der Putten scored in the fourth minute, putting the hosts ahead 2-1 on aggregate. A corner kick led to a scramble in the 6-yard box, and van der Putten eventually headed the ball into the net.

    LAFC knotted the score with a 51st-minute goal from Nathan Ordaz. Delgado got his first of two assists on the night, laying the ball off for Ordaz to deliver a left-footed strike from the middle of the 18-yard box.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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