MIAMI – Following the First Leg matches in the Round of 16 of the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, it’s time to review the Key Takeaways from the fifth week of the competition.

Club América reaches 100 Champions Cup matches  

Club América’s 1-nil win on the road over the Philadelphia Union saw Las Águilas reach 100 matches in Concacaf Champions Cup history (W-55, D-23, L-22, GF-203, GA-93), becoming the second Mexican club to reach the century mark after Cruz Azul. 

Bouanga bags 14th Champions Cup career goal, 450th goal in Round of 16 history 

Denis Bouanga’s goal in Los Angeles FC’s 1-1 draw against LD Alajuelense increased his career tally in the Champions Cup to 14 total. Notably, the strike also marked the 450th goal in Round of 16 history in the Concacaf Champions Cup. 

Arriola returns from injury, scores brace

Seattle Sounders FC pulled off an impressive 3-nil result on the road against Vancouver Whitecaps FC with Paul Arriola as the protagonist. After a year sidelined through injury, the attacker registered his first brace in the Concacaf Champions Cup, reaching six goals in the competition and recording his fourth goal as a Sounder.

Thrilling 3-2 victory for Cruz Azul in Epic Match of the Week 

The Epic Match of the Week presented a thrilling clash between CF Monterrey and defending champions Cruz Azul. Monterrey was in command 2-1 until drama ensued in the closing stages. 

Goalkeeper Santiago Mele was sent off due to a second yellow card in the 80’, and defender Stefan Medina had to replace him in goal as Rayados was out of substitutions.  

Gonzalo Piovi and Nicolás Ibañez turned the game on its head with late goals in the 84’ and 90’, respectively, to seal the comeback on the road for Cruz Azul.

Promising debut for the Central American Cup Champions 

Reigning Concacaf Central American Cup winners LD Alajuelense earned a valuable 1-1 draw on the road at LAFC. Alejandro Bran, who scored his first Champions Cup career goal, found the back of the net for La Liga with a spectacular effort from long-range.

San Diego FC defeats Toluca 3-2 while on numerical disadvantage 

Despite losing two players to ejections, San Diego FC carried on with its impressive debut campaign in the competition by securing a valuable 3-2 result at home in the first leg against Liga MX champions Toluca.

The result sets up an exciting return fixture in the series which will be featured as our Epic Match of the Week for the Round of 16 Second Leg match week.