Goals from Miguel Rodríguez and Nelson Deossa were enough for the host Pachuca beat the American club 2-1, completing a 3-2 aggregate victory in the semifinals of CONCACAF Champions Cup. The two Mexican teams tied 1-1 in the first leg of the total goals semifinal series last week in Mexico City.
Pachuca will advance to the final on June 2, where they will face either reigning MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew or Mexico’s Monterrey. The Crew has a 2-1 lead heading into the second leg of their semifinal series on Wednesday in Guadalupe, Mexico.
Pachuca took the lead in the 12th minute on Tuesday. Salomón Rondón’s long-range shot was blocked and slid into the area. Rodríguez reacted quicker and ran for the rebound, then fired a left-footed shot from 14 yards.
Two minutes later, Pachuca doubled the lead. A counter attack on the right wing led to a shot by Erick Sánchez that was saved. Deossa followed up with a left-footed volley from the top of the box that cut through traffic. A header from Club América’s Henry Martín in the 23rd minute off a cross from Alex Zendejas cut the deficit in half.
The visitors’ chances of a comeback faded when Israel Reyes received a red card in the 90th minute for a foul on Deossa. Pachuca is heading to the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, formerly known as the CONCACAF Champions League, for the sixth time, having never lost a title match.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
