CIUDAD PANAMA – Ivan Moreno scored in the second half to lift Liga MX side Club Leon to a 1-0 victory over Tauro FC of Panama in the first leg of the 2023 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 on Wednesday evening at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City.
The first half-hour was largely a chess match, with the two teams using the opening minutes to feel each other out. The first real chance at goal came in the 30’ for Club Leon when a cross was played in from the left flank and Brian Rubio’s header glanced off the post.
Tauro’s best moments of the first half came toward the end when they put some heavy pressure on the Club Leon defense and nearly found a goal through Breidy Goluz, whose flying header sailed wide.
Club Leon then closed out the half with a chance through Joel Campbell that required a fingertip save from Tauro GK Eric Hughes.
Tauro were first to threaten in the second stanza and Miguel Camargo looked set to score from the left side of the area but hooked his shot wide of the far post in the 48’. Minutes later Goluz got behind the Club Leon defense but could not finish the job.
Club Leon were happy to take advantage of the wayward finishing from the hosts and struck in the 55’ when a deep cross was initially played by the Tauro defense, but the ball fell perfectly for Moreno to turn into net for a 1-0 Club Leon lead.
🦁 ¡GOL de @clubleonfc!
— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions) March 9, 2023
Iván Moreno anotó el primer gol del partido en la segunda mitad. ¡Se abre el marcador!#SCCL23 pic.twitter.com/TzvNcezEKr
Tauro aimed to get back on level terms by utilizing a long ball approach with their attacking introductions, but the Club Leon defense never wavered and comfortably saw out the remaining minutes to secure the away victory.
