MIAMI, Florida – Second half goals from Patrick Mullins and Justin Morrow lifted Toronto FC to a 2-1 victory over Mexico’s Club Leon in the second leg of their 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 series on Wednesday evening at the ESPN Sports Complex in Bay Lake, Florida.

With the victory, Toronto FC earned a 3-2 win on aggregate and advanced to the quarterfinals where they will face Cruz Azul of Mexico.

The two teams traded chances in the first half through Jean Meneses for Leon and Noble Okello for Toronto FC, but neither were able to connect.

The intensity between the two sides carried into the second half and inside the first minute after the restart Toronto FC GK Alex Bono was called on to save a Jose Ramirez shot.

Back came Toronto FC though and they would break the deadlock in the 55’ when Jacob Shaffelburg filtered a cross into Mullins, who calmly pushed a right-footed shot into net for a 1-0 lead.

Toronto FC’s confidence was sky high and Morrow was able to double the advantage in the 72’ by running onto a pass from Ralph Priso and poking in a shot past Club Leon GK Rodolfo Cota to make it 2-0.




Club Leon were not about to give up though and they pulled a goal back in the 80’ when Fernando Navarro redirected in a right-footed shot to cut the gap to 2-1.

 

 

It made for a dramatic finale and Club Leon almost came up with the decisive strike through Emmanuel Gigliotti, but Bono made a big save to secure the result.