LAFC suffers CONCACAF Champions League heartbreak as it loses 3-1 on aggregate to Leon

Los Angeles FC suffered a heartbreak in the CONCACAF Champions League as it was beaten 3-1 by Leon on Sunday night.

Leon won the first leg of the final 2-1 in Mexico on Wednesday night, and the Liga MX club delighted its thousands of traveling supporters with another 1-0 win at LAFC’s daunting BMO Stadium Sunday.

Lucas Di Yorio’s goal in the first half was the only goal of the second leg and sealed the Mexican’s first CONCACAF Champions League title.

León finished sixth in the Liga MX standings last month, but knocked out the defending Major League Soccer champion with superior play in both legs.

LAFC won both the Supporters’ Shield and the MLS Cup last fall, but failed to record an unprecedented treble for an MLS club. A year ago, the Seattle Sounders became the first winner of the MLS in its current form of the Champions League, another argument for the leagues’ growing equality.

Lucas Di Yorio’s goal in the first half was the only goal of the second leg and sealed the title

Los Angeles FC goalkeeper John McCarthy blocked an earlier shot from the midfielder

But LAFC lost the Champions League final for the second time in four seasons. The club also lost the 2020 final to Tigres after knocking out León earlier in that competition with a comeback win in the second leg.

Hungry for international recognition for their remarkable success in just six seasons of existence, LAFC coaches and executives had described this final as the most important game in team history, though most acknowledged that the MLS titles mean more to fans.

In the first leg, León took a two-goal lead in second-half stoppage time before a dramatic strike from Denis Bouanga kept LAFC’s hopes alive despite the 2–1 defeat.

LAFC opened the rematch with an unusual formation of five defenders, including Italian great Giorgio Chiellini, who had not played since April 26 due to a leg injury.

LAFC were more assertive in attack than in the first leg, but Di Yorio still cemented León’s lead as the Argentina forward gained space in the penalty area and bounced a shot away from LAFC goalkeeper John McCarthy, who made a handful of spectacular saves in the match. opening match.

LAFC had a handful of moderately promising chances in the second half, but only managed three shots on target. León goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota made a fantastic save from Timothy Tillman’s header in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time.

The vibrant home-and-home final was the latest positive step in the partnership between MLS and Liga MX, who have collaborated on multiple competitive business ventures in recent years to generate revenue while raising the global profile of North American football. strengthen.

Italian great Giorgio Chiellini returned to the LA lineup after an absence since April 26

Los Angeles FC striker Carlos Vela (left) rivals Leon midfielder Fidel Ambriz (center)

Goalscorer Di Yorio had to be taken off the field with an injury in the second half

“We want people to know that these are both growing football nations,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said before the game. “When the world sees this final, and when they see the (Leagues Cup), they’ll know.”

At the end of July, both leagues will pause domestic competition for the third edition of the Leagues Cup club tournament, in which every team in the MLS and Liga MX will participate for the first time.

“That was a really big effort, but we felt it was important to do it,” said Liga MX president Mikel Arriola. ‘We build something together and the world gets more competition, more quality.’

León is the ninth Mexican club to win the Champions League in its current format, which began in 2002.