MIAMI, Florida – Fresh off their respective qualifications for the Final of the 2023 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League, Los Angeles FC and Club Leon resumed play in their domestic leagues with both sides suffering narrow defeats over the weekend.

LAFC experienced defeat for the first time this season in Major League Soccer (MLS) in a 2-1 loss with state rivals San Jose Earthquakes.

Cristian Espinoza’s right-footed finish delivered an early 1-0 lead to San Jose in the 8’, but LAFC would answer with the equalizer on the half-hour mark to make it 1-1. Mateusz Bogusz’s stinging right-footed shot was parried by San Jose GK JT Marcinkowski, but 2023 SCCL top scorer Denis Bouanga reacted quickly, pouncing on the loose ball and calmly slotting home the rebound from the slimmest of angles for the goal.

The three points would ultimately belong to the Earthquakes though, as a late penalty set up Espinoza’s second of the day with a conversion from the spot in the 83’ for a 2-1 San Jose win.

LAFC now sit third in the MLS Western Conference standings with a 5W-3D-1L record.

In Liga MX, Club Leon’s 2023 Clausura campaign came to an end with a 3-1 defeat to Atletico San Luis in the first round of the Liguilla.

Club Leon came roaring out of the gates and held a 1-0 lead even before three minutes had elapsed. Alfonso Alvarado made a darting run into the Atletico San Luis area and then swung a pass over to Victor Davila, whose composed left-footed finish lifted the home fans to their feet.

Atletico San Luis were able to get back on level terms 1-1 just three minutes later in the 6’ when Leo Bonatini took advantage of a defensive mistake from Adonis Frias and fired into an open net.

Club Leon had several looks at goal to regain the lead, but could not find a way past Atletico San Luis GK Andres Sanchez and soon enough it was 2-1 to the visitors on a right-footed strike from Javier Guemez in the 33’.

The wave of pressure kept coming from Club Leon and Jesus Angulo was unlucky to have not scored in the 45’ when his laser from outside the area rang off the crossbar and onto Sanchez’s back before bouncing away.

Atletico San Luis gladly took advantage of the let-off and Vitinho’s left-footed shot right before halftime extended the visitors’ advantage to 3-1, which held until the final whistle.