LEON, Mexico – Club Leon have advanced to their first ever Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Final thanks to a 3-1 victory over Tigres in the second leg of the 2023 SCCL semifinals on Wednesday night at the Estadio Leon in Leon, Mexico.
With this result, Club Leon earned a 4-3 triumph on aggregate to earn their first ever Final in the SCCL era and first Concacaf final since 1993.
Club Leon will face MLS franchise Los Angeles FC in the Final in a rematch of their 2020 Round of 16 series.
Tigres nearly got themselves a goal in the first few minutes when a clever run from Sebastian Cordova led to a chance for Andre-Pierre Gignac, but the shot was deflected wide.
Club Leon had their chances as well early on and they made the most of them, with Fidel Ambriz firing in a left-footed rocket from long distance to beat Tigres GK Nahuel Guzman to give Club Leon a 1-0 lead in the 10’.
Club Leon were flying and minutes later in the 15’ the scoreboard read 2-0 to the hosts when a sweeping Alfonso Alvarado was blocked by Guzman, but Angel Mena swooped in and pushed home the rebound for the goal.
Despite Club Leon dominating play in the first 45 minutes, Tigres were just a goal away from evening the series and finally made their breakthrough in the 68’.
Raymundo Fulgencio, who came off the bench to replace Luis Quinones, polished off a one-two combination with Rafael Carioca off a short corner kick with a sensational, swerving right-footed shot to make it 2-1 to Club Leon in the game, but 3-3 on aggregate in the series.
Right back came Club Leon and William Tesillo did well to rise up and flick a header toward the back post where Adonis Frias was perfectly positioned to steer it home, giving Club Leon a 3-1 lead in the match and 4-3 on aggregate in the 79’.
Tigres feverishly sought a response to try to win the series with another goal, but the Club Leon defense held on to nail down the victory and a place in the Final.
