MIAMI, Florida – The four teams from Liga MX set to compete in the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League played their final league matches prior to the start of the SCCL Round of 16, including a battle of SCCL sides between Pumas and Club Leon.

In a feisty affair, Pumas rallied from an early 1-0 deficit to claim a 2-1 victory at home.

Club Leon started the stronger of the two sides and after hitting the post less than 90 seconds into the match, they grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 20’ on a counterattack led by Victor Davila, who played across for Santiago Colombatto and the Argentine’s left-footed shot rippling the back of the net.

Pumas struck right back, however, as Rogerio finished off a great team goal by sweeping in a right-footed shot to draw Pumas level 1-1 in the 24’.

Pumas GK Alfredo Talavera then came up with a number of big saves to keep the scoreline even so that Arturo Ortiz Martinez could hand Pumas a 2-1 lead in the final moments of first half stoppage time. Leonel Lopez swung in a free kick and Martinez rose highest to meet it and head into net for the winning goal.

Cruz Azul were left frustrated by their outcome over the weekend, as a late 1-0 lead turned into a 2-1 defeat versus Necaxa.

La Maquina were in control, 1-0, thanks to Juan Escobar’s penalty conversion in the 34’, but an equalizing goal from Milton Gimenez in the 84’ and then a last-gasp winning goal stabbed home by Rodrigo Aguirre in the 90+5’ gave Necaxa the dramatic victory.

Also in action was Santos Laguna, who fell 3-2 in a wild affair with Club America. A Bruno Valdez own goal in the 10’ had the Torreon club in front early, 1-0, but the visitors from the capital city equalized, 1-1, in short order in the 13’ courtesy of Diego Valdes.

The back-and-forth continued, with Santos once again taking the lead in the 41’ from Doria, who spun in a header off a corner kick to make it 2-1.

But back came Club America with the 2-2 leveler right before halftime through Salvador Reyes Chavez, who took advantage of a loose ball in the area after a cross from the left wing.

The spoils would then go to Club America, who got a penalty conversion from Bruno Valdez in the 57’ to take home the 3-2 victory.