Club Leon beat LAFC to win Concacaf Champions League and re-assert Mexican dominance

June 5 – Club Leon from LigaMX beat the MLS’s Los Angeles FC 1-0 in the Final second leg at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California, and return the title to Mexico.

Club Leon’s 3-1 aggregate win over LAFC sees them claim their first ever Concacaf crown, and qualify for the 2023 Club World Cup to be played in Saudi Arabia later this year.

The Mexicans had taken a one-goal lead into the second leg.

William Tesillo and Angel Mena scored for the hosts at the Estadio Leon in Leon, Mexico, before 2023 SCCL top scorer Denis Bouanga scored his seventh goal of the tournament with the clock rapidly running down, to set up Sunday’s finale.

It was a fast start that saw Club Leon take the lead on 20 minutes with Ivan Moreno on the right-wing finding Lucas Di Yorio, whose shot beat LAFC goalkeeper John McCarthy.

Club Leon found their stride on the wings and dominated the first half but failed to take their chances.

LAFC worked their way into the game and began to create their own chances but nothing stuck as they began to commit more players to attack.

Club Leon defended well to become the 14th Mexican side to win the 15th edition of the Champions League in its current format. Seattle Sounders broke the streak with their win last season.

For LAFC it was their second loss in the Champions League final having been beaten in 2020.

This was the last season of the current format of the Concacaf Champions League that will expanded from 2024 to a 27-club competition and will include five rounds (Round One, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Final) with all ties played in a direct elimination format.

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