Concacaf Final, First Leg: Leon (Mexico) - LAFC (USA) 2:1 LAFC were mighty fortunate to escape with such a narrow defeat. After the third Leon goal was disallowed they managed to score one deep into stoppage time. Should be a good return leg. The away goal rule is switched off for the final.
Concacaf Final, Second Leg: LAFC (USA) - Leon (Mexico) 0:1 Well, things are back to "normal" in Concacaf. After finishing as runner-up in 1993, Leon win their first Concacaf title in club history. LAFC go home emptyhanded from a final for the second time after 2020. The first leg of the CAF final was also last night:
Qualifiers to Date: UEFA: TBD (June 10) CONMEBOL: TBD (November 4) CONCACAF: Club León (Mexico) AFC: Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) CAF: TBD (June 11) OFC: Auckland City Football Club (New Zealand) Host: Al Ittihad Saudi Arabian Club (Saudi Arabia)
Karim Benzema joins Al Ittihad and will be back at the CWC: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65827087
In the next two days we will know the European and African champions. With one "nouveau riche" team already shut out (LAFC) it would be nice to see the same fate for another (Man City). But City look very strong. Inter Milan are really up against it. So far Italian clubs are 0/2 in European finals this year after Roma lost to Sevilla (Europa League) and Fiorentina to West Ham (Conference League). And on a bit of a random note, Concacaf have finally acknowledged that they don't have a "league" format and rebranded their competition Concacaf Champions Cup. The old branding. And it finally has decent prize money for the winner at USD 5M.
Unlike LAFC, Man City prevailed in their second attempt at continental glory. Inter Milan really should have forced extra time through Lukaku but it ended 1:0 for the Cityzens. Personally not thrilled but it did take 15 years after the massive influx of investment to get the club its first UCL title. I am pleased for Swiss international Manual Akanji, however. He joined the club one year ago and immediately secured a starting spot at what many consider the best team in the world at present. Not many can say that. Anyway, stay tuned. The African decider between Al Ahly and Wydad is tonight.
I think the lawsuit is ongoing, but given that these are all the teams that use the term "inter", I think that the term is deemed too generic to be used exclusively for Inter. Also, wouldn't MLS be in a bit of a pickle with practically every team having borrowed their name from somewhere else. Still think, "Miami Vice" would have been a better name.... Inter Milan, an Italian club SC Internacional, a Brazilian club Inter Miami CF, an American club FC Inter Sibiu, a Romanian club FC Inter Turku, a Finnish club FK Inter Bratislava, a former Slovak club NK Inter Zaprešić, a Croatian club FC Internaţional Curtea de Argeş, a Romanian club Esporte Clube Internacional, a Brazilian club from Santa Maria Esporte Clube Internacional (SC), a Brazilian club from Lages Associação Atlética Internacional, a Brazilian club from Limeira Inter Luanda, an Angolan club Inter Baku FK, an Azerbaijani club Inter Club d'Escaldes, an Andorran club Inter Leipzig, a German club Inter de Grand-Goâve, a Haitian club Internacional de Madrid, a Spanish club Inter Moengotapoe, a Surinamese club Inter Cardiff FC, a Welsh club Anyway it should be an inter-esting lawsuit... erm, I mean fascinating sorry, don't want to violate Inter Milan's name use there....
After a heated first half, Wydad are leading 1:0 (and are ahead on away goals). The ref does not have the game under control. At all. This is the kind of game that could yield multiple red cards.
Al Ahly avenge their defeat last year with a goal in the second half and celebrate their 11th CAF title.
Qualifiers to Date: UEFA: Manchester City Football Club (England) CONMEBOL: TBD (November 4) CONCACAF: Club León (Mexico) AFC: Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) CAF: Al Ahly Sporting Club (Egypt) OFC: Auckland City Football Club (New Zealand) Host: Al Ittihad Saudi Arabian Club (Saudi Arabia)
🔥🏆El Mundial de Clubes de 2023 se jugará en la ciudad de Yedahttps://t.co/slXmyklFUi#MundialDeClubes | #FIFA | #Futbol— TUDN MEX (@TUDNMEX) June 26, 2023
First FIFA tournament in Saudi Arabia since the 1997 Confederations Cup and they have yet to ever host the AFC Asian Cup (2027 will be the first time). Self-inflicted? Absolutely. But those are the facts. And given that Al Ittihad qualified, Jeddah was always going to be the host city.
The Libertadores group stage is complete. Corinthians are the most prominent elimination. The draw for the R16 is on July 5th.
Next notable addition for Al Ittihad, Jota from Celtic: https://www.skysports.com/amp/footb...ign-portuguese-winger-from-celtic-in-25m-deal
The Libertadores R16 has been drawn. The thing to watch this year, from a historical context, is whether Brazil can make it five in a row. That has never been done before.
We are down to the quarterfinals in the Libertadores: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Copa_Libertadores#Quarter-finals Flamengo and River Plate are out.