PATH TO THE FINAL: LAFC, Club Léon battle for 2023 Concacaf Champions League glory
The 2023 Concacaf Champions League final will be contested this week, as Liga MX side Club Léon faces off against MLS outfit Los Angeles FC across two legs to be crowned the top men’s club side in Concacaf.
Beginning with Leg 1 on Wednesday in Léon, before Leg 2 goes in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 4th, this final series promises to be an exciting end to what has been another thoroughly-entertaining edition of our continent's top club tournament – and, of course, you can catch both legs right here on OneSoccer.
Here's how the two teams got to this point.
A chance at redemption for California's finest
For LAFC, this week provides a big chance at revenge, as they return to the final for the second time in club history. After falling to Tigres 2-1 in the 2020 final, the black-and-gold are looking to make up for their previous disappointment, having failed to return in both 2021 and 2022.
The MLS Cup and the Supporter’s Shield winners were a day-one favourite for a reason, though – and they're eager to prove why now.
Despite that, things started out nervy for them, though, as while they got past Costa Rican side Alajuelense 4-2 on aggregate in the Round of 16, they were very close to elimination in the second leg. After a Denis Bouanga hat trick on the road gave them a 3-0 lead after leg one, Alajuelense went up 2-0 in leg 2, putting them one goal away from potentially sending the game to a penalty shootout.
HAT TRICK 🎩
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 10, 2023
Bouanga absolutely smashes it into the back of the net to make it three on the road for @LAFC! 3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/T5FNumiAx3
From there, however, up stepped the always-dependable Carlos Vela for LAFC, who scored in the 83rd minute to put the tie to bed, allowing his team to advance without worry.
⚽ GOAL @LAFC! ⚫️🟡@11carlosV shows off his skills with a beautiful goal! The aggregate score is 4-2 now for LAFC. | #SCCL23 pic.twitter.com/KeadCE2ZtL
— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions) March 16, 2023
That led to a quarter-finals date with the Vancouver Whitecaps, and there, LAFC really stepped on the gears. They started a bit slow in the first half of leg one, which was played in Vancouver, but Bouanga took over the game in the second stanza, scoring a brace to help grab a crucial 3-0 road win.
Then, in the second leg, they were similarly ruthless, grabbing another 3-0 victory at home to win 6-0 on aggregate.
GOLAZO 🪽
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) April 12, 2023
Jose Cifuentes makes it 3-0 for #LAFC vs. #VWFC with a double-post smacker!
🔴 https://t.co/7JFAUhgjL6 pic.twitter.com/qmp8aITsSr
Through that, it led to an exciting 2022 MLS Cup rematch with the Philadelphia Union in the semi-finals, in what promised to be an exciting tie.
The first leg in Philadelphia proved that, too, as the Union actually grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 86th minute via a Daniel Gazdag penalty, but Kelyn Acosta then nabbed a huge equalizer in the 91st minute to send things back to LA all tied.
There, however, LAFC would avoid any of the drama that we’ve come to know from these two sides, as they picked up a 3-0 win to book their spot in the final.
⚽ Goal @LAFC!
— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions) May 3, 2023
⚫️🟡 What a strike from @Mahala_jnr! LAFC extends their lead 2-0 in the game, and 3-1 on aggregate. | #SCCL23 pic.twitter.com/iiKefYKIId
LAFC now has a shot at becoming the second MLS team to win this trophy, following up on the Seattle Sounders' heroics of 2022.
Liga MX reps look to continue dominance
As for Club Léon? Los Panzas Verdes began their journey in the Round of 16 against Panamanian side Tauro, as they grabbed a straightforward 1-0 win on the road in leg one before cruising to a 2-0 win at home in leg two to comfortably advance 3-0 on aggregate.
👀 ¿Te perdiste el partido? ¡Aquí te presentamos los momentos más destacados entre @clubleonfc y @TauroFC en la #SCCL23! 📹🦁🆚🐂
— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions) March 17, 2023
📜 CRÓNICA 👉 https://t.co/qtixZdeL6P pic.twitter.com/0DgOueydGa
Then, they took care of business against Round of 16 sweethearts, Violette, in commanding fashion in the quarter-finals. Eager to not get upset like MLS side Austin FC did the round prior, Léon grabbed a big 5-0 win over a shorthanded Violette side in leg one at home, allowing them to comfortably advance even if Violette won the second leg 2-1, with the aggregate score finishing 6-2 in favour of Léon.
⚽ Gol de @clubleonfc 🦁
— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions) April 5, 2023
Elías Hernández marca el 5-0 en el cierre de una jornada perfecta para el equipo mexicano. | #SCCL23 pic.twitter.com/vmxnAdNZxc
That led to a date with fellow Mexican side Tigres in the semi-finals, in what promised to be a tough tie for Léon given Tigres’s success in this tournament, seeing that Tigres has made four finals since 2016, while Léon has just one finals appearance in the history of this competition (1993), and none since the shift to the modern Champions League format in 2008.
Yet, Léon was not bothered by that. Even as they trailed 2-1 after leg one, as Tigres grabbed a crucial home win to kick off the tie, Léon was confident in their chances as they got set to return home.
Turns out they’d be right to have that confidence, too, as they stormed out to an early 2-0 lead inside 15 minutes thanks to goals from Fidel Ambríz and Ángel Mena. From there, even as Tigres then did well to respond in the 68th minute to tie things up and potentially send the game to penalties, Adonis Frías then secured the result for Léon in the 79th minute.
⚽ 🦁 ¡Gol de @clubleonfc! Adonis Frías convierte y los locales ponen el global 4-3 a favor.#SCCL23 pic.twitter.com/Tk4Q0BSKXu
— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions) May 4, 2023
As a result, it sets up a meeting with LAFC, the second-ever matchup between these two sides in this competition, after LAFC dispatched Léon 3-2 in the Round of 16 in 2020.
Here, both teams will have plenty at stake, even beyond that rematch.
Finals PREVIEW: Who's got this one?
For LAFC, this Champions League trophy is one of the last notches that they need to get in their belt, along with the US Open Cup, having now won two Supporters Shields and one MLS Cup. Plus, after the Seattle Sounders became the first MLS team to win this trophy last year since the shift to the Champions League from the Champions Cup (which the LA Galaxy and DC United won), they’ll look to prove that MLS teams can win this trophy consistently after past struggles.
Armed with arguably the deepest roster in MLS history, LAFC have been built for a triumph like this, as they have the top-end talent and depth to overcome the stress a run in this tournament can typically put on a squad.
As for Léon, they’ll look to make the most of just their second continental final ever, and first since the Champions League rebrand. Along with the hope of Liga MX on their shoulders, given that teams from this league had won every final since 2006 before the Sounders beat Pumas last year, that’ll only add to Léon’s pressure to win.
Especially after disappointing Apertura and Clausura seasons in Liga MX play, losing in the Apertura finals and missing out on the Clausura playoffs altogether, this is a big chance for Léon to get back on track in terms of team success.
Therefore, it should be an exciting climax to this tournament, as both sides chase a trophy and a chance to play at the Club World Cup against other continental winners, including the winner of the UEFA Champions League and Copa Libertadores, among others.
A Canadian connection in Los Angeles
As for those watching from above the 49th parallel, there are a few Canadian stories worth following in this final, too.
LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau is a key member of the Canadian Men’s National Team, and while it’s unsure if he plays in this tie as he recovers from an injury sustained in last year’s MLS Cup final, he’s a big reason why they were at this tournament with his play last season.
Then, on the touchline, LAFC’s assistant coach Marc Dos Santos is Montréal-born, has coached both the Montréal Impact and the Vancouver Whitecaps, and has also played a big role in LA’s success since returning to the club for his second stint in 2022.
Tune in for both legs (Wednesday and Sunday) right here on OneSoccer.
