LAFC and Club Leon looking to secure CCL semi-final places

The second legs of the 2023 Concacaf Champions League get underway this week with two of the four ties showing string favourites with the other games very much up in the air.

LAFC and Club Leon expected to progress

LAFC are the form side in the region and the 2022 MLS Cup winners have started the new MLS season in stunning form with four wins and two draws in their six opening season games. In the Concacaf Champions League too, Steve Cherundolo’s side look imperious as they had little trouble in dismantling Vancouver with two Denis Bouanga goals helping the ‘Black and Gold’ to a 0-3 away win with LAFC expected to progress to the semi-final stage.

Club Leon too had little trouble in punishing Violette with the side from Haiti humbled 5-0 in the first leg and the Liga MX are expected to advance to the next phase of the competition where they await the winners of the Tigres-Motagua clash.

Tigres struggle domestically

Tigres UANL have lost their way in Liga MX with the Nuevo Leon side on a four game beaten run with their poor form showcased as they fell to lowly Mazatlan on Saturday night with question marks arising about the continuity of Marco Antonio Ruiz on the Tigres bench. Honduran side Motagua will be hoping to avail of the Liga MX side’s poor form with the Mexican side just 1-0 ahead from the first leg.

Atlas-Union too tight to call

Despite recording a 1-0 first leg win from the first leg, Philadelphia played against a ten-man Atlas for half of the game after Anderson Santamaria was red carded in the additional time in the first 45′. A late Daniel Gazdag spot kick did give the MLS side a slight advantage in the tie with neither team enjoying a solid season domestically. The Union are tenth in the Eastern Conference with just two wins from seven as Atlas languish in 14th place in the 2023 Clausura table and sit outside a post season place.

Concacaf Champions League: Quarter final second legs