Leon representing Mexico’s Liga MX beat LAFC of Major League Soccer 1-0 at BMO Stadium on the cool evening of Sunday June 4th, 2023 in downtown Los Angeles, California. That score combined with Leon’s first leg 2-1 victory in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico earned Leon the title of Concacaf Champions League 2023.

LAFC did not play well during either game and were fortunate to have entered Sunday’s game down by only one goal. They outplayed Leon for the first 15 minutes of the second game as their fans’ chants could be heard throughout the stadium. “Dale, dale, dale, black y gold!” However, the LAFC players’ energy, precision passing, and creativity diminished following Leon’s Lucas Di Yorio’s goal assisted by Ivan Moreno at minute 20:00.

Carlos Vela, Lucas Romero, and Lucas Di Yorio

Carlos Vela, LAFC’s captain from Mexico, did not have a significant impact on Sunday’s game by minute 30:00. Frenchman Denis Bouanga kicked a free kick at that time that was not very threating. Might Carlos Vela have taken that shot if he had been playing better? At the end of the first half, Leon played slightly better than the disorganized LAFC squad. Neither team played very well.

Leon began the second half with a corner kick that was volleyed by several of its players before being headed wide right by Colombian William Tesillo. LAFC followed earning a free kick just outside Leon’s box. Carlos Vela missed that free kick attempt because he kicked it into the wall of Leon’s defenders. In an apparent display of frustration or strategic defense, Vela followed his miss by stepping on Lucas Di Yorio. He thus prevented a breakaway for Leon and received a yellow card for the foul. 23 minutes later at 75:00, the Colombian Jesus Murillo also demonstrated frustration and received a yellow card for hurrying medical personnel carrying away an injured Lucas Di Yorio on a stretcher. LAFC players could sense the game clock ticking away. Di Yorio would not return and was replaced by Brian Rubio.

The Croatian Stipe Biuk had replaced Carlos Vela at minute 64:00 and was one of the few players that played well for LAFC. He was part of the team’s several late scoring opportunities. Leon, as LAFC’s head coach Steve Cherundolo explained, was the superior team during most of the 180+ minutes of Concacaf’s Champions League 2023 final.

BMO Stadium filled with local LAFC fans, Leon fans from Mexico, and soccer fans from many places. The LAFC 3252 Independent Supporters Union led supportive chants throughout the game and never ceased supporting their team through the night. Leon fans led their own chants and could be found packed in section 216, partially filling the south end of the stadium, and in smaller groups throughout BMO Stadium. Leon walked the perimeter of the field following their victory to celebrate with those fans that stayed for the celebration ceremony. It was discouraging to see LAFC fans throw water bottles and projectiles at Leon players during that walk. However, the disrespectful actions of a few could not overshadow the beautiful celebrations of Mexican and American soccer cultures that included banda music, lots of beer, friendly animosity, and a shared feeling of community.

https://www.lafc.com/