MIAMI, Florida – The second leg matches of the 2023 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League semifinals are complete and the Final is now set. There were a number of great moments in the two matches this week, yet these five stood out the most.
LAFC make MLS history in SCCL
For the first time ever in the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League era, a team from Major League Soccer (MLS) has reached the Final for a second time after LAFC eliminated the Philadelphia Union 4-1 on aggregate in the semifinals. LAFC also qualified for the Final in their debut season in 2020. It is an impressive achievement considering LAFC’s first season in MLS did not come until 2018. They are also just the second team from MLS to advance to two Concacaf finals in a span of three years, joining the Los Angeles Galaxy of 1997 and 2000.
Club Leon embark on first SCCL Final
Never before had Club Leon reached the Final in the Champions League era until their dramatic 4-3 semifinal victory over Tigres. La Fiera finally got the job done in their fifth SCCL appearance after previous campaigns had ended either in the Group Stage, Round of 16 or Quarterfinal round. It is just the second time in club history that Club Leon have reached a Concacaf final, the first coming 30 years ago in the Concacaf Champions Cup when they finished as runners-up to Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa.
Ambriz ‘golazo’ sparks Club Leon
Prior to the start of the tournament, Club Leon’s 20-year-old MF Fidel Ambriz was profiled as one of the young players to watch and he certainly showed why on Wednesday night with an outstanding goal to open the scoring in Club Leon’s 3-1 second leg victory. Ambriz received a ball well outside the area and fired a left-footed rocket that beat Tigres GK Nahuel Guzman in what will be a goal long remembered by Club Leon fans. Ambriz has shown in this SCCL why he is one of the region’s rising stars, with a goal in five games played.
A rematch in the making
LAFC are participating in just their second SCCL, but they will be facing Club Leon for a second time after previously squaring off with their 2023 Final opponents in the 2020 Round of 16. It was a memorable series, as Club Leon pocketed a 2-0 victory in the first leg, only to see LAFC turn the tables and claim a 3-2 aggregate victory thanks to a 3-0 second leg win at home powered by a brace from Mexican FW Carlos Vela. Many of the same faces who dotted those squads will be back in the fold in this year’s Final, which should make for quite the spectacle.
Liga MX vs. MLS rivalry adds another chapter
There is a long history in the Liga MX vs. MLS rivalry in the SCCL and a new chapter will be added in the 2023 Final. It is the sixth time that a team from each league will square off in the Final, and if past history is any indication, it will be a series that comes down to the wire. Clubs from Liga MX (Monterrey, Club America, Chivas, Tigres) captured the first four of those finals prior to the Seattle Sounders becoming the first MLS team to win the SCCL when they defeated Pumas in last year’s Final. No doubt another great Concacaf final awaits.
