MIAMI, Florida β The 2023 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League is off and running and the nine participating teams from North America were all in action in their respective domestic leagues over the weekend.
Austin FC bounced back nicely from their 3-0 midweek defeat to Violette of Haiti with a 2-1 win at Real Salt Lake. Jon Gallagher gave the Texan visitors an early 1-0 lead in the 9β with a big strike from distance, only to see Real Salt Lake equalize midway through the first half.
But Austin FC would have another big-time response, as Owen Wolff, son of Head Coach Josh Wolff, scored his first career MLS goal with a 30-yard right-footed strike in the 33β to earn Austin FC the win.
You already know who has our vote! ππ
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) March 13, 2023
Vote @JonGallagher96's world-class finish for MLS Goal of the Matchday! https://t.co/c16DjkI7hP pic.twitter.com/31z8zev5mA
Fresh off their 3-0 win in Costa Rica over Alajuelense, Los Angeles FC produced another prolific display in front of goal with a 4-0 home win versus the New England Revolution.
Denis Bouanga, who had a hat trick against Alajuelense, continued his hot streak, converting a penalty in the 14β and then a composed right-footed finish in the 67β for a 2-0 LAFC lead.
Timothy Tillman then took advantage of a heavy touch from the Revolution defense to score in the 83β before Stipe Biuk capped the 4-0 scoreline in the 90+6β by turning in a cross from Bouanga.
After picking up a 0-0 draw against Alianza of El Salvador, the Philadelphia Union delivered another impressive display on defense in a 1-0 win against the Chicago Fire.
A sending off for Chicago in the 50β gave the Union a man advantage and it finally paid off in the 90β when Joaquin Torres supplied the game-winning goal with a left-footed strike.
The Vancouver Whitecaps took a big step toward the quarterfinals with their 5-0 win against Real Espana of Honduras and then followed that up with a 1-1 home draw against FC Dallas. After an early FC Dallas goal, the Whitecaps got the 1-1 equalizer via an own goal from FC Dallas attacker Paul Arriola in the 34β.
After a 0-0 draw at Tigres in midweek, Orlando City SC played to another draw, this time in a 1-1 final with DC United. Like he did in Monterrey, Orlando City GK Pedro Gallese kept his team in the game with a number of saves and then saw his side take a 1-0 lead in the 53β when Duncan McGuire pushed a shot over the line. However, in the end, a DC United goal in the 80β spoiled Orlando Cityβs victory hopes, leaving them with a point.
In Liga MX over the weekend, it was a duel between a pair of SCCL sides, as Club Leon downed Atlas 1-0. The lone goal of the game in the 18β through Victor Davila, who collected a ball at midfield, charged toward goal and fired in a left-footed shot to secure the three points.
Club Leon rise to seventh in the table with a 5W-3D-2L record, while Atlas are 16th at 1W-6D-4L.
The Tigres attack was kept under wraps in their Saturday encounter with Club America in a 2-0 win for the visitors from Mexico City. A goal in each half allowed Club America to earn the victory, dropping Tigres one spot to third in the table with a 6W-3D-2L record.
It was a tough night at home for Pachuca, who fell 2-1 to Monterrey just days after their 0-0 draw at Motagua in Honduras. The Tuzos enjoyed a bright start, with Marino Hinestroza hammering in a right-footed shot for a 1-0 Pachuca lead in the 3β. The Rayados would answer, though, with a pair of goals to saddle Pachuca with their third loss in four Liga MX games. Pachuca are sixth in the table with a 6W-1D-4L record.