Son Heung-min Shines as LAFC Secures CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 Spot

Casey Halston

Published: February 25, 2026 2:10 AM ET

Son Heung-min Shines as LAFC Secures CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 Spot

LAFC has successfully advanced to the Round of 16 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, led by star player Son Heung-min. The decisive match took place on October 25, 2023, at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, where LAFC defeated Real España from Honduras with a score of 1-0.

Match Details

In this playoff matchup, LAFC entered the second leg with a commanding 6-1 victory in the first leg, which took place on October 18, 2023. This comprehensive win allowed them to secure their place in the next round with an aggregate score of 7-1.

Game Highlights

LAFC achieved their third consecutive victory of the season.
In their previous match on October 22, they triumphed over Inter Miami with a 3-0 win.
Head Coach Dos Santos opted to rest some key players in this match.

Despite rotating the squad, both Son Heung-min and Bouanga were included in the starting lineup. Their presence was likely intended to engage home fans at BMO Stadium, although the team’s overall performance was less than splendid.

First Half Overview

Throughout the first half, Real España put forth an aggressive performance, aiming to mitigate the significant aggregate deficit. LAFC’s Son created several chances early in the game, but both were ruled offside.

In the 26th minute, Bohid had a fantastic opportunity to score, but his shot was deflected by the opposing goalkeeper, Lopez. The first half concluded with a 0-0 scoreline, prompting Coach Dos Santos to substitute Son and Bouanga at halftime to prepare for their upcoming league match.

Second Half Highlights

Early in the second half, LAFC’s dominance began to show. The breakthrough came in the 63rd minute when Tillman managed to find the net after a free-kick situation. Despite an initial save from Lopez, the ball rebounded, and Tapia executed the follow-up shot to score the first goal.

After scoring, LAFC continued to control the game.
Buoyed by their earlier success, efforts from Bouanga and Tillman aimed to extend the lead.
In an unexpected twist, LAFC conceded a late penalty while Nielsen fouled in the box.

However, goalkeeper Hashal made a remarkable save against Spain’s Benavides, preserving the 1-0 victory for LAFC.

CONCACAF Champions Cup Structure

The CONCACAF Champions Cup features a total of 27 teams from member countries, including the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Canada, and Honduras. The tournament operates on a knockout format, where 22 teams compete in home-and-away matches for the first round, with 11 winners and 5 teams receiving byes advancing to the Round of 16.

LAFC earned their spot in this tournament by finishing sixth in the MLS standings the previous season. Their best performance to date includes reaching the finals in 2020 and 2023. With Son Heung-min leading the charge, LAFC aims for their first-ever championship title this season.