Club Leon and LAFC will resume their Concacaf Champions League final on Sunday night in Los Angeles after Leon earned a 2-1 victory in the first leg of the two-game, total-goals series.

Leon was the better side for the majority of the match, but a goal in second-half stoppage time from Denis Bouanga felt like a critical lifeline for the visitors.

Even in a normal circumstance, it would be difficult to say who has the edge.

But especially in CCL finals, it feels like the formbook rarely applies in the second leg.

This is the fifth time an MLS team has faced a Liga MX club in a two-leg final. In the previous four, the second leg has often offered some unexpected twists and turns. And the edge one team appeared to hold after Leg 1 didn’t always materialize.

In case you’ve forgotten, this is how they played out.

Leg 1: CF Monterrey 2, Real Salt Lake 2

Perceived Advantage: Definitely Real Salt Lake.

Why?: The Claret and Cobalt had to suffer quite a bit, and were in danger of conceding a third at the old Estadio Tecnologico before Javier Morales pounced in the 89th minute for a Leg 1 leveler. From there, it all seemed to set up well heading back to Salt Lake, traditionally one of the toughest home field advantages in MLS.

Leg 2: Real Salt Lake 0, CF Monterrey 1

Aggregate result: Monterrey 3, Salt Lake 2

How it played out: Salt Lake’s Fabian Espindola missed two excellent first-half chances. And once Humberto Suazo finished off an excellent team goal for Rayados just before the break, the visitors expertly managed the second half to secure their first of five continental titles.

Leg 1: Club America 1, Montreal Impact 1

Perceived advantage: Montreal, with a caveat.

Why?: Montreal all-time great Ignacio Piatti finished off a really classy early goal for the visitors in Leg 1, who were able hold on for a critical draw and head back to the Stade Olympic for the return fixture. But there was also a sense that the Canadian MLS side had missed an opportunity after weathering a lot of pressure from Las Aguilas only to concede an 89th-minute leveler to Oribe Peralta.

Leg 2: Montreal Impact 2, Club America 4

Aggregate Result: Club America 5, Montreal Impact 3

How it played out: Just like in the first leg, Montreal’s best stages came early. Piatti’s wizardry set up Andres Romero’s opening goal, and Piatti himself had an excellent early look at a second goal denied by goalkeeper Moises Munoz. But from there, America’s class showed, and in particular that of Dario Benedetto, whose second-half hat trick is one of the best 45-minute performances in CCL history.

Leg 1: Toronto FC 1, CD Guadalajara 2

Perceived advantage: CD Guadalajara, to the point of cruise control.

Why: Many across North America — Including in Mexico — believed Toronto FC was the most-equipped team from MLS ever to win the CCL, and that talisman Sebastian Giovinco was the continent’s best player. They’d already seen off UANL Tigres and Club America. So when TFC lost the first leg to Chivas, it was a significant upset. And the nature of both Chivas goals were especially tough to takeL a second-minute strike from Rodolfo Pizarro before the game had settled into a rhythm, and a 72-minute free kick from Alan Pulido that was misplayed by goalkeeper Alex Bono.

Leg 2: CD Guadalajara 1, Toronto FC 2

Aggregate Result: CD Guadalaja 3, Toronto FC 3 (4-2 pens)

How it played out: Toronto failed to lift the trophy, but their performance at the Estadio Akron is probably the best ever by an MLS team on Mexican soil. After another early Chivas goal, Jozy Altidore leveled the affair on the night and Giovinco’s sneaky finish to the near post tied the final on aggregate before halftime. The Reds had the better of the second-half chances — including a ball that fell to almost perfectly to Mark Delgado in second-half stoppage time — but couldn’t find the decisive third goal of the evening and lost in the penalty tiebreak.

Leg 1: Pumas UNAM 2, Seattle Sounders 2

Perceived advantage: Seattle, after some nervy moments.

Why?: It wasn’t only that the Sounders emerged from Pumas’ Estadio Olimpico with a draw, but how they earned it. Seattle found itself in a 2-0 deficit shortly after halftime of the first leg. But Nicolas Lodeiro scored from open play in the 77th minute and then earned a penalty that would have gone unnoticed without the introduction of video review for the first time in the tournament. Lodeiro converted the spot kick and MLS’ first CCL title fel closer than ever.

Leg 2: Seattle Sounders 3, Pumas UNAM 0

Aggregate Result: Seattle Sounders 5, Pumas UNAM 2

How it played out: Pumas gave a good account of themselves in the opening hour, but once Seattle’s Raul Ruidiaz scored just before halftime, the Sounders could absorb pressure and play on the counter — something they excelled at. They’d put the tie to bed that way with two late goals, another each from Ruidiaz and Lodeiro, to end the 22-year MLS drought without a Concacaf club title.