05/01/25 11:51:00
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05/01 23:47 CDT Cruz Azul beats the UANL Tigres and will play Vancouver in the
CONCACAF final
Cruz Azul beats the UANL Tigres and will play Vancouver in the CONCACAF final
MEXICO CITY (AP) --- Striker Angel Sepulveda scored on a penalty kick late in
the match and Cruz Azul defeated the UANL Tigres 1-0 on Thursday to progress to
the CONCACAF Champions Cup final where they will play the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The 34-year-old Sepulveda converted in the 81st minute for the Mexico City
team. He leads the tournament with seven goals and two assists.
"I was able to help to get the win today and to qualify for the final
long-awaited final for us," Sepulveda said. "We take pride in being back in the
final, it is a big step, and we deserve to win it, we respect Vancouver, but we
are going to try to win it."
The first leg of the series eneded in a 1-1 draw.
The Whitecaps beat Lionel Messi's Inter Miami on the other side of the bracket.
Mexican teams have won nine of the last 10 finals of the tournament.
Cruz Azul beat Club America in the previous round to progress to the semifinals
for the first time since 2022 and now is aiming to equal its crosstown rival as
the club in the region with seven titles.
La Maquina is seeking its first regional crown since 2013-14 when it beat
Tijuana.
The Monterrey-based Tigres had advanced over MLS LA Galaxy and were trying to
capture their first CONCACAF title since 2020.
The match was evenly played until Marcelo Flores deflected the ball with his
hand inside the area for a penalty kick that Sepulveda converted with a shot
straight down the middle.
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