The Riverside Press-Enterprise
LAFC falls to Club León, loses Champions League
The Los Angeles Football Club holds the distinction of being the only Major League Soccer team to qualify for two CONCACAF Champions League finals.
LAFC is now also the only MLS club that has come up short twice when North America’s most important professional trophy was on the line.
Having torn through a trio of Champions League opponents to reach the 2023 final against Mexico’s Club León, LAFC concluded the important tournament deeply frustrated after the defending MLS champions fell 1-0 at BMO Stadium on Sunday.
“The chance creation, the box entries that we normally get, were not good enough tonight,” said LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo. “Our final pass was not good. And our finish was not good over two legs. And that’s unfortunate. It hurts but these performances popped up at the wrong time for us and this organization.”
The outcome secured a 3-1 aggregate triumph for León following 180 minutes, clinching their first continental prize since debuting in 1944.
An impressive 2-1 win at Estadio León on Wednesday and then again before an announced crowd of 22,413 in the heart of Los Angeles offered total vindication for the Mexicans under 38-year-old coach Nicolás Larcamón.
Three years ago León was dominated in Los Angeles and lost in the Champions League Round of 16. In their return to Southern California, they dictated the terms of the contest.
For Larcamón the difference against an LAFC team that had been referred to as the best in North America by previously vanquished coaches was the resolve shown by his players in both legs.
“They were up to their best and we were not,” said LAFC midfielder Ilie Sanchez, who was substituted off in both contests after playing an hour. “I think it’s hard but as simple as that. It’s very unfortunate.
It’s so sad because we earned the fight to play the second leg at home in front of the best fans you can ask for and we haven’t delivered.”
Team captain Carlos Vela was also ineffective for the second match in a row and was removed the same time as Sanchez.
Cherundolo went with a starting lineup that included Giorgio Chiellini, who had not played since a Champions League semifinal match in Philadelphia in April, Jesus Murillo and Aaron Long on the interior of the defense with outside backs Sergi Palencia and Diego Palacios.
Playing with five in the back, LAFC hoped to attack directly against León’s quick transitions and address the set-piece concerns that damaged them Wednesday.
“This game is not about tactics,” Cherundolo explained. “It’s about moments and mentality and in the right moments León was better.”
LAFC nearly grabbed the match by its neck in the second minute, but Denis Bouanga, the French forward who led the competition in goals, was unable to connect on a quality cross in front of the León net before the yellow smoke billowing from the supporters’ section cleared the field.
For 20 minutes from the opening whistle, LAFC pressed and pushed to find an equalizer. Then León defender Ivan Moreno moved down the right side toward the LAFC box. Free and clear, Moreno sneaked
behind an LAFC backline that was pushed up near the ball in the middle of the park. He received a perfect pass in the box that was cut back to the penalty spot.
Despite a big swipe at the ball, forward Lucas Di Yorio did not hit his shot with venom. The changeup seemed to handcuff LAFC goalkeeper John Mccarthy, who fell to the grass when the ball bounced off his arms and chest into the net.
“You let one in and you’re chasing the game,” Cherundolo said.
The Mexicans’ victory earned spots in the 2023 and 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, all the while preventing consecutive Champions League triumphs for the MLS after the Seattle Sounders lifted the trophy last year.
Should LAFC’S second CONCACAF Champions League final loss after falling short in 2020 be considered a failure?
“It’s not the right time, the right moment for that word,” Cherundolo said. “I think this team has been fantastic over the past 18 months. And has achieved so much. Put a lot of smiles on a lot of people’s faces and has played some very good football. And competed for another final. Came up a little shot. That’s competitive sports.
“This hurts. It should hurt. Go home. Lick your wounds and we’ll get back to work because there are a lot of goals and points for us this year.”
Just not in December for the FIFA Club World Cup.