Matchday

CCL Final a failure for LAFC? "It's not the right moment for that word"

23MLS_CCL_Final_Sider

In his postmatch press conference Sunday evening after LAFC lost to Club LeĆ³n in the 2023 Concacaf Champions League Final (3-1 aggregate), head coach Steve Cherundolo conceded the Liga MX side were the deserved champions, the better team across the two legs.

And while itā€™s clear LAFC, a team that won the Supportersā€™ Shield/MLS Cup double a year ago, didnā€™t reach their objective in the tournament, Cherundolo wouldnā€™t call it a failure.

ā€œIt's not the right time, right moment for that word,ā€ Cherundolo said after the 1-0 Leg 2 defeat at BMO Stadium. ā€œI think this team has been fantastic over 18 months and has achieved so much. It's put a lot of smiles on a lot of peoples' faces, has played some very good football and competed for another final, came up a little short. Thatā€™s competitive sports, professional sports.ā€

A year after Seattle Sounders FC made history as the first MLS club to win this iteration of the continental championship, LAFC became the fifth MLS team to lose to a Mexican side in the final. And itā€™s the second time the Black & Gold have fallen, also losing in the single-leg 2020 final, to Liga MX's Tigres UANL at an empty Exploria Stadium due to COVID-19 global pandemic restrictions.

ā€œGuys fought like lions,ā€ Cherundolo said. ā€œThey did everything in their power to try to win this match. A few bounces don't go our way, early chances don't go in and then you let one in and you're chasing the game.ā€

The goal LAFC conceded ā€“ a 20th-minute strike by Lucas Di Yorio ā€“ was described as ā€œsoftā€ by Cherundolo. And the clubā€™s captain and leader, former Landon Donovan MLS MVP and Golden Boot presented by Audi winner Carlos Vela, was ineffective and subbed off for Stipe Biuk in the 64th minute.

ā€œCarlos wasn't impacting the game at that moment,ā€ Cherundolo said. ā€œAnd we needed a couple goals and I felt that fresh legs and some more wing play with Stipe would affect the game more, and that's all really I can say about that.ā€

While Club LeĆ³n have ample time to celebrate their first CCL title ā€“ their next competitive game comes July 21 against Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the Leagues Cup ā€“ LAFC have an unenviable quick turnaround to host Atlanta United in league play Wednesday evening (10:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass). They're three points off the Western Conference pace St. Louis CITY SC have set and have two games in hand on the expansion club.Ā 

ā€œMy words to the group I can share with you are exactly that. It's look, this hurts, it should hurt,ā€ Cherundolo said, with LAFC unable to make good on a 2-1 Leg 1 setback. ā€œGo home, lick your wounds, and then we'll get back to work because we have a lot of work to do. And I think there's still a lot of goals and points out there for us this year.ā€

Added midfielder Kellyn Acosta: ā€œObviously weā€™re going to have a sour taste in our mouths. It was a difficult game today, but overall we can be proud of ourselves. It was a long run to get to this point. We hoped to win, but we turn the page, big one on Wednesday against Atlanta and we move forward.ā€