LAFC vs Leon score, result and highlights from CONCACAF Champions League final as La Fiera win first title

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Simon Borg
• 18 min read
Leon win CONCACAF Champions League 2023 vs LAFC (June 4, 2023)
(Getty Images)

Mexican side Leon won their first CONCACAF Champions League in club history after emerging victorious in the second leg of their final against LAFC 1-0 to claim the 2023 North American championship 3-1 on aggregate.

Leon won the first leg in Mexico by a 2-1 scoreline, and they took the lead in Los Angeles after 20 minutes when Argentine forward Lucas Di Yorio met a cross with a scuffed shot that got past LAFC goalkeeper John McCarthy.

LAFC failed to get into gear in the game, and the Di Yorio goal left them shellshocked. They struggled to create and penetrate the five-man Leon backline and they rarely threatened goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota outside of a late flurry of chances.

LAFC manager Steve Cherundolo will be second-guessed for his decision to start with a surprise 3-4-3 formation and five changes in the starting lineup, before switching back to their regular 4-3-3 after halftime. Cherundolo also subbed off captain and star Carlos Vela in the 64th minute when his club still needed two goals.

Ultimately, the LAFC subs didn't work out for them and Leon expertly managed the rest of the match to win their first continental title and in the process earn a berth to both the 2023 and 2025 FIFA Club World Cup tournaments.

LAFC vs Leon final score

  Final Goal scorer Aggregate
Goals
LAFC 0 — 1
Leon 1 20' Di Yorio (Moreno)  3

Lineups:

LAFC 1st Half (3-4-3, right to left): McCarthy (GK) — Murillo, Chiellini (Cifuentes 46'), Long — Palencia, Ilie, Acosta, Palacios — Vela, Bouanga, Bogusz (Opoku 46')

LAFC 2nd Half (4-3-3, right to left): McCarthy (GK) — Palencia (Hollingshead 56'), Murillo, Long (Maldonado 69'), Palacios — Acosta, Ilie (Tillman 64'), Cifuentes —Vela (Biuk 64'), Bouanga, Opoku

Leon (5-3-2, right to left): Cota (GK) — Moreno (O. Rodriguez 87'), Barreiro, Frias, Tesillo, Elias (Alvarado, 87') — Mena (Campbell 69'), Ambriz, Romero — Davila, Di Yorio (Rubio, 76')

Leon deserved Champions League victory

Leon were sharp throughout and played well as a unit, making them tough to break down as LAFC struggled to show their usual swashbuckling style at home.

"We got beat by a very good team. if you look at the 180 minutes we played, they deserved to win," LAFC manager Cherundolo admitted in his postgame remarks. "So hats off to them, and congratulations. I think they had the right answers over two matches and we came up short."

While LAFC have been juggling different competitions in recent weeks, Leon were eliminated from the Mexican league playoffs back on May 7, and for the last month were exclusively focused on the two Champions League final matches against LAFC.

Some teams would be concerned about rust, but Leon's freshness, intensity, and sharpness showed on the field.

"We wanted it more than them," said Leon native and midfielder Fidel Ambriz. "I think that we had the focus and concentration in the two games and we didn't stop believing so that in the 180 minutes we were champions."

"We knew that as long as we were on our game, and focused in what we wanted, that we'd be able to show it on the field," said Leon's Angel Mena. "We suffered in moments but the gameplan was set up with and executed with personality and we didn't just come [to LA] to protect a result, but we won it."

Why was Vela subbed off?

Here's how LAFC manager Steve Cherundolo explained the substitution that left fans puzzled:

"Carlos [Vela] wasn't impacting the game at that moment. We needed a couple goals, and I felt that fresh legs and some more wing play with Stipe [Biuk] would affect the game more, and that's all I can really say about that."

Why did LAFC lose Champions League?

Although LAFC allowed three goals over the course of the two legs, it's the attacking side that felt like the biggest disappointment since it's one of the strengths of the defending MLS champions. But Leon shut down that side of their game.

"The chance creation and box entries that we normally get we were not good enough tonight," Cherundolo said. "Our final pass was not good, and our finishing was not good enough over two legs. And that's unfortunate. It hurts. But these performances popped up at the wrong time for us and this organization.

"If I'm being perfectly honest, I don't think that they are the better team. I just think they were just better in these two games and that's how this competition works."

Champions League back to being dominated by Liga MX?

LAFC could not replicate the Seattle Sounders' feat last year when they became the first Major League Soccer team to win the CONCACAF Champions League and play in the FIFA Club World Cup.

That Sounders triumph interrupted an amazing stretch of 16 straight North American continental championships won by a Mexican team.  

A lot of the same reasons for that Mexican dominance over the previous spell of 16 years were all rehashed by Cherundolo in his final assessment: player budgets and scheduling.

The LAFC manager made an appeal for tweaks to Major League Soccer's roster regulations and another to CONCACAF for a potential calendar adjustment to give them the best shot at overcoming Mexico's high-priced squads.

"The fact that we have to face — as an MLS team — is that in tournaments like this, if you wan to compete in finals and win these, you're going to have to rethink your roster rules and regulation. You're at a big disadvantage.

"There's a little more money on their side [Liga MX] of the table. And money in this game buys quality players. We have a good enough team to win this tournament, but I think with our scheduling and all the competitions this year, we had a lot going on and we ended up in the final not at our best moment.

"Roster building is about that, and having deeper rosters and more quality players on your team allows you to extend those periods of play. And every MLS team is at a disadvantage there."

As far as the schedule is concerned, Cherundolo calls the current CONCACAF Champions League timing (March to June) as "pretty unfortunate" and he wants to see the final played at the end of the MLS team's season.

"This tournament for MLS teams — the timing and scheduling is pretty unfortunate and awkward. Everyone would prefer this game at the end of the season."

LAFC vs Leon updates, highlights from Champions League final

Final: LAFC 0-1 Leon

Final: It was a deserved victory for Leon, who were simply the better team. They were more determined, more organized, they worked hard, and their safety-first tactical plan worked.

Leon's Victor Davila won the Champions League MVP award, and his teammate Fidel Ambriz took away the top young player award. LAFC goalkeeper John McCarthy won the best goalkeeper honor, though his inability to stop the scuffed Di Yorio shot looms large in this series.

LAFC will wonder what could have been had forward Denis Bouanga put away a clear-cut scoring chance in the second minute. But the cross whizzed by Bouanga in the box before he could make contact.

Meanwhile, here are the scenes back in Leon, Mexico.

Leon win their first international title in club history:

Final: Game over. Leon win the match 1-0, and the series 3-1 on aggregate.

100th min.: Chance LAFC! LAFC's Jesus Murillo had a touch at the doorstep, but couldn't get it on target. It was there for him.

94th min.: Chance LAFC! Timothy Tillman with a header in the Leon box, but he can't bounce it past goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota.

90th min.: There will be 10 minutes of stoppage time.

89th min.: Penalty LAFC? Stipe Biuk was getting tugged by Leon's Jose Alvarado in the box and goes down, but the officials say there's not enough in it to call a penalty.

87th min.: SUBS Leon. The visitors kill some more time with two subs as Osvaldo Rodriguez and Jose Alvarado are on.

80th min.: Chances LAFC! Kwadwo Opoku is put through, but Leon goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota comes off his line to stop him.

One minute later LAFC's Denis Bouanga slalomed into the Leon box, but his shot hits the side netting. LAFC are getting close.

76th min.: SUB Leon. It was clear for a few minutes that Lucas Di Yorio had to be subbed, and it eventually happens as Brian Rubio comes in.

75th min.: YELLOW CARD to LAFC's Jesus Murillo who takes issue with the fact that Lucas Di Yorio was taking a while to get off the field. He has cramps and a Leon substitution is coming.

69th min.: SUBS. Aaron Long cannot continue. And even though LAFC made all five subs, they have a head injury substitution to use and Denil Maldonado comes on.

Leon make their first sub as Joel Campbell is on for Angel Mena. But Romero stays in the game after the head-to-head clash with Long.

67th min.: Injury stoppage. Clash of heads in the Leon box involving LAFC's Aaron Long and Leon's Lucas Romero.

64th min.: SUBS LAFC. Carlos Vela subbed off! Stipe Biuk comes on for him. Also, Timothy Tillman is on for Ilie Sanchez. But taking Vela off? 

61st min.: Leon fans are singing Ole with every pass on LAFC's home turf. LAFC are giving away the ball so easily and it's looking like it's going to be Leon's night. LAFC need a goal to give them some hope.

56th min.: SUB LAFC. Ryan Hollingshead takes over at right-back for the injured Sergi Palencia, who looked to twist an ankle.

52nd min.: Chance LAFC. Carlos Vela takes a free kick from a favorable position and it goes off the wall. Then Vela tries to win the ball back and he picks up a yellow after fouling Di Yorio.

50th min.: Chance Leon! On a set piece, William Tesillo heads it down to the far post, where Lucas Di Yorio nearly reaches it. LAFC defender Aaron Long holds him off.

46th min.: Second half is underway with two changes for LAFC.

LAFC subs. Jose Cifuentes and Kwadwo Opoku are in, and Giorgio Chiellini and Mateusz Bogusz are out. LAFC move from the 3-4-3 to a more familiar 4-3-3.

Halftime: LAFC 0-1 Leon (Leon lead 3-1 on agg.)

Halftime: LAFC have not been able to grab a hold of the game and Leon seem in control. The Leon 5-man backline has done well to keep LAFC in front of them except for that first chance after two minutes.

Had Denis Bouanga put that early chance away, it could have shifted the momentum of this series for good. But LAFC could barely trouble Leon's Rodolfo Cota during the rest of the half. 

There have to be changes for LAFC, and you'd imagine it will start by removing one of the three center-backs and bringing on another forward. They need two goals to force extra time.

41st min.: Chance LAFC! Kellyn Acosta takes a left-footed shot from the top of the box that bounces just wide right. LAFC are picking up the pace. The Leon goal definitely shook them momentarily.

32nd min.: YELLOW CARD to Ilie Sanchez for a foul on Fidel Ambriz. So that's three yellows in total so thus far in this game.

Owen Wilson is not worried just yet for his LAFC team.

30th min.: Chance LAFC. It was a free kick from a favorable position inside Leon's 'D' but it wasn't Carlos Vela who took it. It was Denis Bouanga who fired a shot that was deflected right into the hands of goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota.

28th min.: LAFC now need to score at least two goals. Denis Bouanga tries from distance, but he skies it.

25th min.: Chance Leon! Victor Davila has two identical looks at goal within a couple of minutes, and his shot finishes wide on both occasions.

20th min.: Goal Leon! An excellent through ball for right-back Ivan Moreno and his cross finds Di Yorio who scuffs a shot that gets past LAFC goalkeeper John McCarthy.

19th min.: Flashpoint! Double yellow card from the referee for Diego Palacios and Jaine Barreiro. You can tell from the tweet below that Leon wanted a red card there.

11th min.: Chance LAFC! A Carlos Vela set piece from the left finds Aaron Long in the box, but he bounces his header wide left and can't get it on target. That was an unopposed header in the box. LAFC have missed two gilt-edged chances.

8th min.: Had Bouanga finished that chance BMO Stadium would have exploded and the pressure would have come crashing down on Leon. But since that chance, things have calmed down into a steady, measured pace.

LAFC are in a 3-4-3 with wingback Diego Palacios pushed up really high on the left. Even Jesus Murillo is pushing up from his center-back position:

2nd min.: Chance LAFC! What a great look it was and Denis Bouanga whiffed. It was a great cross by left wingback Diego Palacios, but Bouanga could not make contact with it.

1st min.: LAFC kick off the match. LAFC are in black and Leon are in their light green. And the LAFC supporters are loud. Their tifo? "Finish 'em"

Kickoff: LAFC vs. Leon

5 mins to KO: The stage is set. It should be a great final game.

30 mins to KO: LAFC were in a similar position in the 2020 Champions League Round of 16 and Carlos Vela led the way to a memorable 3-0 second leg triumph in LA. Here are the highlights from that match:

45 mins to KO: It's worth keeping an eye on Leon's Victor Davila, who apparently had limited practice time in recent days with a left calf problem.

1 hour to KO: Lineups are out. Two changes for Leon (Elias and Di Yorio at forward), while LAFC have five new starters and a formation change. One of them, Giorgio Chiellini, hasn't played since April 8.

1 hour, 15 mins to KO: Leon fans look like they'll be making themselves heard at BMO Stadium:

1 hour, 45 mins to KO: BMO Stadium should have a crackling atmosphere and anyone who doesn't already have tickets will be paying a pretty penny to get in:

2 hours to KO: The match kicks off at 6 p.m. local time in LA, but some fans made a day of it, getting to the stadium hours before the match:

LAFC vs Leon lineups

There are more than a few lineup changes made by manager Steve Cherundolo compared to the first leg. Jesus Murillo, Giorgio Chiellini, Sergi Palencia, Kellyn Acosta, and Mateusz Bogusz all get the start after missing or sitting to start the first leg. The lineup also will feature three center-backs as Cherundolo and LAFC go on an all-out attack.

LAFC starting lineup (3-4-3): 77-John McCarthy (GK) — 3-Jesus Murillo, 14-Giorgio Chiellini, 33-Aaron Long — 30-Sergi Palencia, 6-Ilie Sanchez, 23-Kellyn Acosta, 12-Diego Palacios — 10-Carlos Vela, 99-Denis Bouanga, 19-Mateusz Bogusz

LAFC subs (11): 1-Eldin Jakupovic (GK), 24-Ryan Hollingshead, 2-Denil Maldonado, 18-Erik Duenas, 80-Jullian Gaines, 20-Jose Cifuentes, 11-Timothy Tillman, 17-Daniel Crisostomo, 7-Stipe Biuk, 27-Nathan Ordaz, 22-Kwadwo Opoku

Leon's Colombian left-back Yairo Moreno left the first leg with an 8th-minute injury, and 35-year-old Elias Hernandez, who subbed in for him in the first leg, will replace him. One other change to the Leon lineup is Lucas Di Yorio coming in at center forward for Jose Alvarado. 

Leon starting lineup (5-3-2): 30-Rodolfo Cota (GK) — 3-Ivan Moreno, 21-Jaine Barreiro, 22-Adonis Frias, 6-William Tesillo, 11-Elias Hernandez — 13-Angel Mena, 26-Fidel Ambriz, 29-Lucas Romero — 7-Victor Davila, 18-Lucas Di Yorio

Leon subs (12): 1-Alfonso Blanco (GK), 40-Oscar Garcia (GK), 23-Byron Castillo, 25-Paul Bellon, 34-Oscar Villa, 27-Jesus Angulo, 24-Osvaldo Rodriguez, 8-Ivan Rodriguez, 28-Jose Ramirez, 12-Joel Campbell, 20-Jose Alvarado, 15-Brian Rubio

LAFC vs Leon live stream, TV channel

  • Date: Sunday, July 4
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET
  • TV channels: FS1 (English), UniMas, TUDN (Spanish)
  • Streaming: Fubo, Fox Sports GO, TUDN app, Univision NOW

The match will be televised by FS1 (English), and UniMas and TUDN (Spanish) with all three broadcasts streaming on Fubo, which is available to new users on a free trial.

A stream will also be made available on each broadcaster's streaming platform for authenticated users (with cable, satellite, or telco packages).

LAFC vs Leon betting odds, lines

LAFC may have come up short in the opening leg of this contest, but they're heavy favorites to come away victorious in the second leg at home and earn at least a chance in extra time.

There's an expectation of goals as well. The first leg wasn't exactly a barnburner, but both teams still managed to find the back of the net. Now, with the likelihood of a more open game as both teams go for broke to win the trophy, the goals are expected to flow once again.

  LAFC
win		 Draw Leon
win		 Both teams
to score Y / N		 Over / Under
2.5 goals
BetMGM
(USA)		 -140 +280 +340 -160 / +110 -160 / +115
Sports
Interaction
(Canada)		 -149 +255 +320 -172 / +109 -161 / +116
Author(s)
Author Photo
Simon Borg
Simon Borg is a senior editor for football/soccer at The Sporting News.
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