🏆 Chivas take leg-one of Clásico; Herediano stun LA Galaxy; Monterrey draw
The Concacaf Champions Cup round-of-16 first-legs continue Wednesday evening, with some highly-anticipated ties to boot.
Here is what went down.It took until the second half for the first big chance to fall, and it should have been advantage Seattle but Nouhou's point-blank header rang the cross-bar to spare Cruz Azul's blushes.
Pedro de la Vega appeared to put the hosts ahead but his goal was chalked off due to an offside flag in the buildup.
It simply appeared it wouldn't be Seattle's night as Jordan Morris saw his effort pushed onto the post in the final 20 minutes.
With the scoreline level, Cruz Azul will take some confidence back to Mexico for the second-leg.Scorers: Halbouni 86' ; De la Rosa 24'
After a back-and-forth start, it was the visitors who stunned the home crowd when Roberto de la Rosa got in behind the Vancouver defense before slotting home the opener.
¡Roberto De La Rosa abre el marcador para Rayados! 🤠#ConcaChampions pic.twitter.com/PWuUzCNpaA
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) March 6, 2025
Vancouver found their all-important equalizer in the dying minutes however, as Belal Halbouni got them level on aggregate with a rare goal from defense.
Despite the late parit, it is a tough start to the tie for Vancouver as they will now have to travel to Mexico for the second-leg, a place where MLS sides tend to struggle in the Champions Cup.Scorers: Cáceres (OG) 77'
Chivas took leg-one of the Super Clásico cup clash with América after a shock own-goal late in the second-half.
After a dull first-half that produced just one shot on target from either side, the quality attacking moves remained few and far between as neither side was all-too keen on giving away the opener.
Chicharito made his cameo past the hour mark, but the legendary Mexican forward struggled to receive service.
The deadlock was finally broken however when América shot themselves in the foot with an own-goal courtesy of Sebastián Cáceres after his keeper punched the ball out into his face.
¡Las Chivas toman la delantera en el marcador! ⚽#ConcaChampions pic.twitter.com/pi6ARrUr7E
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) March 6, 2025
While it was a shocking way for América to go behind in the tie, they will have the chance to dig themselves out of the hole in the second-leg.Scorers: Aguilar 65'
It was all Galaxy in the opening 45 minutes, but they did little threaten with their dominant possession.
After the break disaster struck for the MLS side however, as Elías Aguilar bagged a stunner for the opener, giving the Costa Rican side the lead on the night and aggregate.
¡Aguilar rompe el empate! 💥Herediano toma la ventaja en el marcador 🔴🟡#ConcaChampions pic.twitter.com/IDhESDgIGJ
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) March 6, 2025
The home side will be overjoyed to take a lead back to the U.S. for the second-leg, but the reigning MLS champions will be keen on pulling off the comeback.
📸 Simon Barber - 2025 Getty Images
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