Cruz Azul and Vancouver meet in CONCACAF final with history at stake
FILE PHOTO: Apr 30, 2025; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA; Vancouver Whitecaps defender Ranko Veselinović (4) celebrates with forward Damir Kreilach (19) after the game against Inter Miami CF at Chase Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images REUTERS
Cruz Azul and Vancouver meet in CONCACAF final with history at stake
MEXICO CITY - Hosts Cruz Azul will look to clinch a record-equalling seventh continental title in Sunday's CONCACAF Champions Cup final, while their opponents the Vancouver Whitecaps are aiming to be the first Canadian club to be crowned champions.
The winner of the final at Mexico City's Estadio Olimpico Universitario will also qualify for the expanded 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and this year's Intercontinental Cup.
Cruz Azul are eager to end their season on a high and bounce back from a Mexican league semi-final loss to Club America by claiming a CONCACAF crown that would draw them level with their arch rivals in continental honours.
The nine-time Liga MX winners cemented their status as favourites with a 7–0 aggregate thrashing of Haiti's Real Hope, a commanding 4–1 win over MLS side Seattle Sounders, and back-to-back 2–1 victories over America and fellow Mexican heavyweights Tigres UANL en route to the final.
Sunday could also mark coach Vicente Sanchez's farewell, with local media reporting he is set to step down after just six months in charge.
"Reaching the final takes a lot of hard work and a lot of gratitude," Sanchez told reporters as his side reached their first CONCACAF final since 2014.
"We want to repay all the support we have and try to win things because Cruz Azul demands to win things."
The Canadians, however, have been no strangers to the underdog label throughout the competition.
After a first-round win over Costa Rica's Saprissa, the 2024 Canadian Championship winners stunned Mexican sides Monterrey and Pumas UNAM before a stunning 5-1 aggregate win over Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in the semis.
Unlike their opponents, Vancouver arrive in good form, on the back of a 15-game unbeaten streak across all competitions while leading the MLS Western Conference standings.
"We don't back down under any circumstances," said Vancouver midfielder Andres Cubas ahead of the final.
"We've achieved important victories in Mexico to reach the final ... We'll go out there knowing that it's just one game, that we have one chance to make history."
Vancouver are just the third Canadian club to reach the CONCACAF final, following in the footsteps of Montreal (2015) and Toronto (2018), who both fell short against Mexican opposition. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Catarina Macario and US women coast past China in friendly
US forward Catarina Macario wheeling away in celebration in a friendly at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on May 31. PHOTO: AFP – Catarina Macario scored and had an assist for the United States women's national football team as 'security blanket' Naomi Girma made her return during a comfortable 3-0 friendly victory over China in a friendly in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on May 31. It was the 17th win in 21 games for the English coach Emma Hayes, who was tasked with restoring the Americans to the summit of the women's game following their early 2023 World Cup exit. She has already started the revival with gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. On May 31, the former Chelsea manager hailed the return of defender Girma – the first million-dollar player in women's football history. It was her first appearance for the US in 2025. Hayes said: 'We've missed her... Just in terms of the way we control the game; her, in a deeper space, just making decisions when to play forward, when not to.' Sam Coffey added: 'Having her on the field is like having a security blanket.' Macario scored in the 28th minute and set up Coffey's goal in the 35th minute. Lindsey Heaps made it 3-0 in the 54th minute at Allianz Field. This was the first of five matches for the US ahead of Concacaf qualifying for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. Next up for the US are Jamaica in St Louis on May 3. Macario proved she is fully recovered and back to brilliance after an anterior cruciate ligament injury cost her nearly two years of action and saw her miss the 2023 World Cup. She has eight goals and five assists in her past nine starts and was in the right spot at the right time for the opening goal. Macario opened the scoring after 28 minutes, bundling home a close-range finish after good work from Alyssa Thompson. The US doubled their tally seven minutes later with a brilliantly worked goal, which began when the gifted 17-year-old midfielder Lily Yohannes released Thompson down the right, who crossed for Macario. Macario played a short pass into Coffey, who swept home with aplomb. Heaps bagged the US' third in the 54th minute, nodding in past China goalkeeper Pan Hongyan to effectively seal the win. A milestone occurred in the 70th minute when Lo'eau LaBonta replaced Yohannes. LaBonta, 32, became the oldest player to make her US debut, surpassing 30-year-old McCall Zerboni. LaBonta is more than 14 years older than Yohannes. LaBonta said: 'When they called my name, I was sitting being the best cheerleader I could be on the bench. I was like, 'This is amazing. I've never been field view watching the national team'. It was so cool. And they were like, 'Lo, go.' And I was like, 'Go where? All right, let's go!'' REUTERS, AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Straits Times
Bouanga's extra time strike takes LAFC into Club World Cup
May 31, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; LAFC forward Denis Bouanga (99) controls the ball against Club America midfielder Alvaro Fidalgo (8) in the second half during a playoff match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at BMO Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images REUTERS Denis Bouanga scored an extra-time winner to lift Los Angeles FC to a 2-1 victory over Club America in a Club World Cup qualifying playoff match at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday. The winger, who had orchestrated much of LAFC's attacking output in the match, scored the winner in the 115th minute after unleashing a shot that took a wicked deflection on its way into the net. After a goalless first half, Mexico's Club America were awarded a penalty in the 62nd minute, when referee Wilton Sampaio went to the pitchside monitor and ruled that Mark Delgado had fouled Erick Sanchez. Substitute Brian Rodriguez, who made 64 appearances for LAFC between 2019 and 2022, stepped up to the spot and fired his effort past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. LAFC pressed hard for an equaliser and their pressure paid off when Igor Jesus headed home from a corner in the 89th minute to score his first goal for the club and take the match into extra time. The Major League Soccer side go into Group D alongside Brazil's Flamengo, Tunisian club Esperance de Tunis and Premier League side Chelsea. The playoff was held to decide the 32nd team in the Club World Cup after Club Leon were kicked out of the tournament in March due to an ownership rule breach. The Mexican club also had their appeal rejected at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The expanded 32-team Club World Cup runs from June 14 to July 13 in the United States with prize money of $1 billion at stake. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
17 hours ago
- Straits Times
Stroll to miss Spanish GP due to wrist injury
Formula One F1 - Spanish Grand Prix - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain - May 31, 2025 Aston Martin's Lance Stroll during qualifying REUTERS/Bruna Casas BARCELONA - Canadian Formula One driver Lance Stroll will miss Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix due to hand and wrist pain, his Aston Martin team said on Saturday. The team said Stroll, son of team owner Lawrence, had been experiencing pain for the past six weeks which his medical consultant believed stemmed from surgery following a cycling accident in 2023. "His medical team have confirmed that he will not race tomorrow and he will undergo a procedure to rectify these issues before focusing on his recovery," the team said. Stroll qualified 14th at the Circuit de Catalunya but was summoned by stewards after the session for failing to be weighed. Aston Martin will not be able to replace him for the race. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
