May 4 – For a second consecutive season the Concacaf Champions League Final will be contested between a team from LigaMX and the MLS.
Traditionally dominated by Mexican clubs who have won 13 of the last 14 Champions League finals until Seattle Sounders broke their run last season, the 2023 final will be between 2022 MLS Cup winners Los Angeles FC, and LigaMX’s Club Leon.
Both teams won the second legs of their semi-finals last night. The winners of the final will qualify for two FIFA Club World Cups – the 2023 edition in December in Saudi Arabia, and the expanded 32-club tournament in summer 2025.
LAFC took an away goal advantage into their semi against Philadelphia Union and after 12 minutes had the lead when Timothy Tillman fired in a rebound from a header.
On the hour mark a second yellow card for Philadelphia’s Olivier Mbaizo saw him sent off leaving the Union to play the final half-hour with 10 men.
Philadelphia fought hard but LAFC’s Kwadwo Opoku put the tie beyond them with an 82 minute strike. On 90 minutes 2023 SCCL top scorer Denis Bouanga made it 3-0 and 4-1 on aggregate for his sixth goal of the tournament.
LAFC will face Club Leon in the final and will host the decisive return leg on Sunday, June 4 at BMO Stadium, in Los Angeles. The teams will play first in Leon on Wednesday May 31.
Leon squeeze through
Club Leon made it to their first Concacaf Champions League Final with a 3-1 victory over Tigres in Leon and an aggregate 4-3 triumph.
A fast start by both teams could have seen wither score but it was Leon who took the lead on 10 minutes with Fidel Ambriz firing in a left-footed shot from long range.
Leon were 2-0 up five minutes later when Alfonso Alvarado’s shot was blocked only for Angel Mena to push in the rebound.
While Leon dominated the first half, Tigres weren’t out the tie and Raymundo Fulgencio, who came off the bench to replace Luis Quinones, levelled the tie on aggregate at 3-3 with a swerving right-footed shot on 68 minutes.
It was not going to be their night though as Leon scored on 79 minutes after William Tesillo flicked a header toward the back post where Adonis Frias was positioned to tap in.
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