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Best in MLS history? LAFC has another major goal in sight
Best in MLS history? LAFC has another major goal in sight,LAFC is the first MLS club in the 21st century to make it to the Champions League final more than once.

Best in MLS history? LAFC has another major goal in sight

After a wild tournament that included upsets, drama and a fairytale run for Haitian underdogs Violette AC, the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League final is set.

Los Angeles FC of MLS will play Liga MX’s Club León in a two-legged final on May 31 and June 4.

For LAFC, it’s another achievement in a season full of them. Its 3-0 victory over Philadelphia Union in the semifinals on Tuesday led Philadelphia coach Jim Curtin to declare LAFC “probably the best team in our league’s history.”

Catch the best moments of the match between @LAFC and @PhilaUnion in our highlight reel! ️️ For the recap go to https://t.co/tv9gniefCd #SCCL23 pic.twitter.com/Uch2xs0Wrv

— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions) May 3, 2023

It’s a big shoutout from Curtin, but it’s not unrealistic.

With the victory, LAFC is the first MLS club in the 21st century to make it to the Champions League final more than once. And it has done so while holding two domestic trophies from 2022 — the MLS Cup and MLS Supporters Shield.

“The atmosphere in the locker room right now is obviously a happy one, but also a focused and hungry one,” LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo told the media after the match. “We don’t dwell on successes too much, nor do we dwell on games that don’t go our way. I think recovery, physically and mentally, which is more important, has been key for this group.” 

Recovery will be on everyone’s mind as LAFC prepares for the final against León. Between the regular MLS season and ongoing U.S. Open Cup, LAFC must play five games between now and the final. León, already at the tail end of the Liga MX season, will play just one.

LAFC’s chances in the final may come down to depth. If its midfielders are tired or injured, León will capitalize. But recent signing Timothy Tillman appears to be peaking at just the right moment for LAFC.

He was relatively quiet in MLS since his arrival from Bayern Munich in late February. Against Philadelphia in the semis, however, he scored once and earned Man of the Match in the second leg. That’s not bad for a backup midfielder.

️ TIMOTHY TILLMAN! #LAFC pic.twitter.com/6jCoSMR8Fd

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 3, 2023

No matter what, LAFC will give León its best. 

“We are ecstatic to be in the final of this competition,” Cherundolo told the Los Angeles Times. “It was the highlight on our calendar, as well as MLS, for the first half of the season. So far, we’ve accomplished the goals that we’ve set for ourselves. And there’s one more to go.”