Ángel Mena signed a double and León came back to beat the Seattle Sounders 3-2 on Wednesday, with which the Mexican team was crowned monarch of the second edition of the Leagues Cup.
American Cristián Roldán put the American club ahead at 47, but Mena leveled at 60. At 79, the Ecuadorian striker converted a penalty to set up the comeback.
Argentine Emanuel Giglioti sealed the score at 84 for the Fiera, an eight-time monarch in Mexico, who won his first international title.
Frenchman Nicolas Benezet approached Americans on discounts.
León’s triumph is the second for a Mexican team in this tournament, where Cruz Azul was crowned last year.
León and Sounders played this tournament by invitation. Starting in 2023, the Leagues Cup will include all 18 Liga MX teams and all MLS teams.
León’s victory also confirms the dominance of the Aztec teams on which they are active in MLS. The latter were also left out of the final of the CONCACAF Champions League, which will be settled between America and Monterrey.
After a first half in which there were few dangerous shots, the Sounders took the lead as Colombian Jimmy Medranda reached the bottom line down the left and sent a delayed pass for the arrival of Roldán, who connected a left-footed shot that entered through the center of the goal and left goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota without a chance.
Seattle came close to extending its lead at 55 with a shot from Peru’s Raúl Ruidíaz that crashed into the post.
The Mexican team leveled the game when Elías Hernández sent a cross down the left wing into the small area. Mena arrived sliding and with his left leg sent the ball to the nets.
With twelve remaining, Mena was brought down inside the box by Shane O’Neill. The Ecuadorian himself took the foul and converted with a powerful shot to the left side of goalkeeper Stefan Frei, who launched himself correctly, but failed to deflect.
Mena returned to weight in the match at 84 when he took a shot that was parried by Frei. Giglioti appeared in the small area to push the ball and made it 3-1.
The Sounders added a touch of drama to the final minutes with a mid-range shot from France’s Nicolas Benezet that was deflected by a defender and left Cota without a chance.(AP)
LEAGUES CUP CHAMPIONS 2021 @clubleonfc 🦁🏆🇳🇬# CHARLYFootball #SerFieraEsUnPrgullo #Leon Club pic.twitter.com/asPQ6AS1Es
– CHARLY Football (@CharlyFutbol) September 23, 2021