The Honduran club Real España, led by Costa Rican coach Jeaustin Campos, suffered a heavy 1-6 defeat against LAFC from the United States in the Concacaf Champions Cup qualifying round. The result puts LAFC in a strong position to advance and face Alajuelense in the next stage of the regional tournament.
The second leg will take place in Los Angeles on February 24. Real España would need to win by six goals away from home to progress, a scenario considered highly unlikely after LAFC’s dominant performance.
The match at General Francisco Morazán Stadium in San Pedro Sula saw Denis Bouanga open the scoring for LAFC with a penalty in the third minute. Goals followed from David Martínez (11th minute), another from Bouanga (24th), Son Heung-min with a penalty (22nd minute), and Timothy Tillman (39th). By halftime, LAFC led 5-0.
Real España managed to score through Jack JeanBaptiste in the 51st minute, but Bouanga completed his hat-trick for LAFC’s sixth goal at the 71st minute. Hugo Lloris, France’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper from 2018, was also part of LAFC’s lineup.
Liga Deportiva Alajuelense is expected to face LAFC in the round of sixteen. Alajuelense skipped the first round due to their three consecutive Central American Cup titles. The first leg of this likely matchup is scheduled for March 11 in California, with the return game set for March 17 at Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium.
Costa Rica’s other representative in the tournament, Club Sport Cartaginés, will play Vancouver Whitecaps on February 18 at 9 p.m. in their first-leg encounter.
