Mexican side Leon won their first CONCACAF Champions League in club history after winning 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 2-1 and Los Angeles took the lead after 20 minutes when Lucas Di Yorio met a cross with a low shot past LAFC goalkeeper John McCarthy.
LAFC couldn’t settle in the game and Di Yoria’s goal shocked them. They struggled to create and penetrate Leon’s five-man backline and 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 to the starting line-up before switching back to his usual 4-3-3 after half-time. Cherundolo even outscored captain and star Carlos Vela in the 64th minute when his club still needed two goals.
LAFC’s substitutes ultimately fell short and Leon expertly handled the rest of the game to win their first continental title and in the process earn a place in the 2023 and 2025 FIFA Club World Cup tournaments.
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