Leon gets stunned in California, losing in the second leg of the round of 16 CONCACAF Champions League against a pre-season form LAFC side.
Leading up to the game last night from Leon Vs LAFC and a couple of days prior to a lot of teams were on the brink of elimination in the CONCACAF Champions League. Tigres almost were eliminated by a side in Alianza from EL Salvador if it wasn’t for a last-minute winning header from Argentine Nahuel Guzman making the aggregate 5-4. Then Club America almost losing against a Guatemalan side in Comunicaciones F.C where they almost lost in penalties, but America was able to defeat their demons and win on penalties 5-3. They both prevailed and so did Cruz Azul, but shockingly Leon didn’t.
Leon looked asleep for the first half seeming to be content cruising on the 2-0 lead they acquired at home a couple of days ago and didn’t do enough to keep LAFC at bay for the second half and especially Mexican WInger Carlos Vela as he had a brace scoring in the 27th minute and again in the 77th, then De Rossi capped it off at the end of the 79th minute making the aggregate 3-2. Stunning Leon and sending Nach Ambriz and company home early. LAFC is one of the more consistent teams in MLS and proved to be deadly at home in California against a very established team in Leon who will look to capture the Liga MX title now that their CONCACAF Champions league dreams have been crushed. LAFC takes on Cruz Azul now on the 10th of March in the Quater Finals where almost anything can happen now as only MLS and Liga MX clubs remain along with the only Central American team in Olimpia F.C.
The gap would be closing between MLS and Liga MX, but MLS side Seattle Sounders lost against Honduran side Olimpia F.C when the for teams went to penalties and won 4-2, but for the first time the competition seems as open as its ever been. The bigger conversation has to be the competition in the region looks to finally be on an upswing and though it’s too early to predict how consistent it will be it’s making for an already great CONCACAF Champions League for us the viewers. Many viewers including myself didn’t expect much but comfortable wins for Liga MX sides, but it has been nothing but turbulence so far for Liga MX sides.
Leon is in an interesting spot now knocked out of the competition as they can focus on Liga MX fully, but one has to wonder how much shorter Ignacio “Nacho” Ambriz’s leash is after this early exit in CONCACAF Champions League and after an early exit from the “Liguilla” last tournament in the first round against Morelia. The Liga MX coaching carousel spins fast and abrupt at times, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Leon make a change not now but in the near future. They have been patient with him and have treated him better than most organizations down south treat coaches. Only time will tell what will happen, but this caps another tough loss for Leon.