Bouanga, Hollingshead carry LAFC past Alajualense in CCL first leg.

Two major trophies inside a eight-month span? the way LAFC played on Thursday night, they believe its possible.

Making its return to the CONCACAF Champions League since its unprecedented run to the final three years ago, LAFC showed on Thursday night that it intends to be reckoned with in this tournament. Denis Bouanga and Ryan Hollingshead were the catalysts in the first leg of the Round of 16 against LD Alajualense, Bouanga lead the way with a hat trick, with two of those goals coming off the foot of Hollingshead, and LAFC had an easy rather time in Costa Rica with the 3-0 win.

The win puts LAFC in the driver’s seat heading into the final leg Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Should LAFC hold on, they will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of the Vancouver Whitecaps-Real Espana matchup. The Whitecaps are in the same position as LAFC, only with a bigger lead, as they currently lead Espana 5-0.

After a scoreless first half, LAFC took the lead just two minutes into the second half. Carlos Vela played a ball to an overlapping Hollingshead, who then crossed into the penalty area, the cross took a deflection, but the ball still made its way into the six-yard box and Bouanga sent the shot past keeper Leonel Moreira into the back net. LAFC doubled its advantage on nearly the same sequence, as Hollingshead chased down a long ball from the right side. Only this time, Hollingshead chose to dribble into the penalty area, Hollingshead then deked Suhander Zúñiga, played a ball into the six-yard box at the back post and Bouanga swooped in and buried the chance. LAFC finished off the evening in the 90th minute, as Shane Palencia passed to Ilie Sanchez, who then played a short pass to Bouanga, and he dribbled into the penalty area and beat Moreira.

LAFC was the aggressor in the first half, generating numerous chances through the first 45 minutes. The one chance that LAFC surely wanted a do-over was in the 30th minute, as Hollingshead received a ball from Vela, crossed into the six, the ball found the feet of Bouanga, who shot for the near post area, but the shot hit off the near post.