A Dramatic Opening Night
In a highly anticipated Leagues Cup 2026 opener, Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) edged out Liga MX side Chivas de Guadalajara in a tense penalty shootout at BMO Stadium on Wednesday night. Following a hard-fought 1-1 draw in regulation, LAFC secured the extra point with a 5-4 victory from the spot.
The atmosphere at BMO Stadium was electric, as a massive contingent of Chivas supporters filled the stands to match the energy of the LAFC faithful. The match marked the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, living up to the pre-match hype with intense play and high-profile performances.
Regulation Action
LAFC opened the scoring in the 38th minute. David Martínez delivered a precise pass that split the Guadalajara defense, finding Denis Bouanga, who fired a right-footed shot into the far corner. With this goal, Bouanga moved into a tie with Lionel Messi for the most all-time goals in Leagues Cup history, reaching 14.
Chivas responded quickly before halftime. In the 42nd minute, Bryan González set up Roberto “Piojo” Alvarado, who tucked a left-footed finish inside the post to equalize. The second half saw significant pressure from the visitors, with Fernando González rattling the woodwork and Efraín Álvarez forcing defensive adjustments from the LAFC back line.
LAFC goalkeeper Thomas Hasal proved pivotal, recording seven saves during regulation, including a crucial stop on an Alvarado header in the 88th minute to force the game into penalties. Son Heung-min, despite a quieter offensive night, nearly secured the win in the 80th minute with a curling free kick that forced a top-tier save from Chivas goalkeeper Raúl Rangel.
The Decisive Shootout
The penalty shootout was marked by high tension. After both teams traded successful kicks, the deciding moment came when Hasal dove to his left to deny Luis Romo’s strike. Jude Terry then stepped up to bury the final penalty into the upper-right corner, clinching the extra point for the Black & Gold.
Following the match, LAFC Head Coach Marc Dos Santos praised the quality of the opponent, noting the presence of multiple World Cup players within the Chivas squad. Chivas manager Gabriel Milito expressed gratitude to the traveling supporters, highlighting the club’s massive global following.
LAFC now turns its attention to the next stage of the group phase, with a match against Toluca scheduled for August 8. Chivas will look to regroup against FC Dallas on the same day.