The task was the same for LAFC heading into the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Final against Leon, score two goals and hold Club Leon, and LAFC would be champions of the region.
LAFC certainly had experience coming back in this tournament. Certainly Leon knew, as it was just three years ago, in this very stadium that LAFC staged a remarkable comeback in the quarterfinals of the 2020 tournament against this very club, as they came home trailing by two goals on aggregate, but scored three on its home turf to stun Los Verdiblancos and start a run that eventually got them to the final. LAFC this year just needed to come back from one goal, but Leon was determined not to have a repeat performance of 2020, and they succeeded, as a 20th minute strike from Lucas Di Yorio combined with a stingy defensive effort and pinpoint passing enabled them to hold the advantage and walk away with the CCL trophy with the 1-0 win at BMO Stadium.
“A great opportunity for the team is gone,” LAFC midfielder Ilie Sanchez said. “Above all I think we deserved to win the final here at home in front of these fantastic fans, I have never seen a crowd like this in my career and it’s a shame for the club but especially for them.”
The result in Los Angeles gives Leon the win 3-1 on aggregate, and gives Leon its first CONCACAF Club title in the club’s history. LAFC meanwhile is left to ponder its second loss in a CCL final in three years.
“The quality of our football overall could have been better in these two matches,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “From my experiences in this game as a player, the higher up you go, the higher the level is, the less chances you get. Taking advantage of those chances and defensively as well. You can’t let opponents get into your goal or any good looks at least.”
LAFC started out the match well. LAFC got its first chance just two minutes in, Diego Palacios crossed a ball into the penalty area Denis Bouanga timed his run to get inside the penalty area and looked to have a tap-in chance just outside the six-yard box, but in a rare circumstance, he missed the ball and Leon eventually cleared out the danger. LAFC had another shot in the 10th minute, as Carlos Vela sent a free kick into the box, Mateusz Bogusz headed a ball for the back post, but it just missed.
That missed chance eventually came back to haunt LAFC, as Leon eventually got a chance to build on its lead. Fidel Ambriz sprung Ivan Moreno on the overlapping run down the right side, Moreno chased the ball into the penalty area, sent a short cross in and Di Yorio fired a ball just outside the six that LAFC Keeper John McCarthy got a piece of, but not enough to prevent the shot from crossing the goal line for the goal that restored Leon’s two-goal aggregate lead.
LAFC threw everything forward from that point on, but found Leon hard to break. Bouanga sent a free kick through a Leon wall in the 30th minute, but the wall did its job, as the deflection made it easier for keeper Rodolfo Cota to make the collection, and LAFC’s last first half chance came in 41st minute a volley from Kellyn Acosta just missed the far post. LAFC kept the pressure on in the second half, as Jose Cifuentes sprung Kwadao Opoku into the penalty area in the 78th minute, but a heavy touch from Opoku enabled Cota to make the save, then a minute later, Bouanga dribbled through the Leon defense to get open inside the penalty area, but Bouanga’s shot hit the side netting.
“We had a very good chance with Denis [Bouanga], which should’ve been one or two [goals]so it could have worked out beautifully but this game is not about tactics, it about moments and mentality. In the right moments, they were better,” Cherundolo said.
LAFC won’t have long to dwell on the loss, as they jump back into league play, as they host Atlanta United on Wednesday night.
