Fireworks expected as Alajuelense square off with LAFC | OneFootball

MIAMI, Florida – A scintillating night of football should be on the docket on Thursday night when Costa Rican heavyweights Alajuelense take on Los Angeles FC in the first leg of the 2023 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

It will be the first ever meeting between the two clubs, but there is plenty of history when it comes to Costa Rican and United States clubs in the SCCL, with U.S. teams holding a 18W-5D-11L edge.

2013-14 and 2014-15 semifinalists Alajuelense are making their seventh appearance in the SCCL and their overall record of 16W-6D-11L record in the tournament is evidence that getting a result against the Ticos is no easy feat.

Alajuelense are back in the tournament for the first time since 2021 by virtue of their runner-up finish in the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf League. In that campaign, they led all teams in goals (22), assists (15), shots on goal (36), passes (3,614) and balls recovered (74).

All-time SCL leading scorer Johan Venegas (17 goals, 4 assists) will be one to watch, as will veteran MF Celso Borges. However, one player that could greatly trouble the LAFC defense is rising star Aaron Suarez. The 20-year-old scored in the 2022 SCL Final versus Olimpia and has taken a shine to Concacaf nights.

When it comes to LAFC, all roads lead to veteran FW Carlos Vela. The 34-year-old Mexican striker remains one of the best players in the region and sparkled in his previous SCCL appearance in 2020 when he scored five goals to lead LAFC to the Final.

Winners of MLS Cup 2022 and the 2022 MLS Supporters’ Shield, LAFC would love to add a Concacaf crown to their collection, but they must first steer their way past a tough Alajuelense team.

Helping Vela with that effort will be Diego Palacios, who won the Best Young Player award in the 2020 edition when he topped all players in ball recoveries with 14.