Cruz Azul thrash Vancouver Whitecaps to win CONCACAF Champions Cup
MEXICO CITY: Mexican club Cruz Azul clinched a record-equalling seventh CONCACAF Champions Cup title with a crushing 5-0 victory over Canada's Vancouver Whitecaps in the final at the Olympic Stadium yesterday.
A dominant performance in front of an ecstatic home crowd saw Cruz Azul join Mexican rivals America as the most successful clubs in the 60-year history of the competition and also secured them a spot in the 2029 Club World Cup.
Vicente Sanchez was only appointed Cruz Azul's coach in January and while there have been reports suggesting he may leave the club he said his only focus was on repaying the faith shown in him.
"Giving back to the people who trusted in me is the best thing that can happen, today we are giving an international title to Cruz Azul," the Uruguayan told reporters.
"The truth is that I live in today, I'm happy, I don't think about the future."
The hosts struck early, taking the lead in the eighth minute as Carlos Rotondi slid in to square the ball for captain Ignacio Rivero, who calmly finished in a one-on-one.
Lorenzo Faravelli doubled the lead 20 minutes later, winning back the ball and unleashing a superb strike that curled in off the far post, before Angel Sepulveda added another from close range in the 37th minute.
Mateusz Bogusz made it 4-0 seconds before the break and Sepulveda scored his second goal with a powerful header five minutes into the second half as he became the tournament's top scorer with nine goals.
Major League Soccer side Vancouver failed to record a single shot in the entire match and were left frustrated in their bid to become the first Canadian team to win the continental title.
"We came with hope and aspiration and ambition, of course now there's devastation," Vancouver coach Jesper Sorensen told reporters.
"We made a great tournament, we've beaten great teams on our way but today we couldn't put on a performance to beat a really good team like Cruz Azul, that's how sometimes it is with sports.
"I feel sorry for the players... to win we needed our best performance and today it was quite the opposite. Cruz Azul was just better in every aspect." - Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
After Madrid penalty furore, football's lawmakers rule for retakes
PARIS: If Julian Alvarez slips while taking a spot kick for Atletico Madrid at the Club World Cup this month, he will get the second chance he was denied in the Champions League in March, after international football's rule-making body on Tuesday clarified the double-touch rule. Football's rule-making International Football Association Board (IFAB) announced that if players unintentionally touch the ball twice while taking a spot kick and still find the net, they should be allowed a retake. Alvarez slipped as he netted his penalty kick in a shooutout to decide a Champions League Madrid derby. Video review (VAR) detected that he touched the ball twice and the referee ruled the shot a miss under Law 14, which deals with the penalty kick. Real went on to win 4-2. After the match, European governing body UEFA said that "under the current rule, the VAR had to call the referee signalling that the goal should be disallowed." UEFA said it would hold talks with world football's governing body FIFA and and the rule-making International Football Association Board (IFAB). On Tuesday, IFAB issued its ruling. It was to come into force on July 1, but FIFA at once announced the change would apply to the Club World Cup, which kicks off in the United States on June 15 with both Madrid clubs among the 32 teams. "The situation where the penalty taker accidentally kicks the ball with both feet simultaneously or when the ball touches the penalty taker's non-kicking foot or leg immediately after they have taken the kick... is rare," wrote Lukas Brud, IFAB's secretary in a circular. "As it is not directly covered in Law 14, referees have understandably tended to penalise the kicker for having touched the ball again," he wrote. However, he added, the law "is primarily intended for situations where the penalty taker deliberately touches the ball a second time before it has touched another player." "This is very different from the penalty taker accidentally kicking the ball with both feet simultaneously or touching the ball with their non-kicking foot or leg immediately after they have taken the kick, which usually occurs because they have slipped." Brud pointed out that even an accidental second touch could be unfair to a goalkeeper because it changes the ball's trajectory. Therefore, he wrote, IFAB had decided that "if the kick is successful, it is retaken." If a kick during the game is unsuccessful, the result is an indirect free kick, as it would be for a deliberate second touch, unless the referee decides to play an advantage for the defending team. In a shootout it remains a miss. — AFP
The Star
12 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-England coach Tuchel expects players to suffer in World Cup heat
FILE PHOTO: Soccer - England - Thomas Tuchel Press Conference - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - March 14, 2025 England manager Thomas Tuchel during the press conference Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo LONDON (Reuters) -England coach Thomas Tuchel will attend FIFA's Club World Cup starting this month to observe how players cope with the expected hot and humid weather conditions. Next year's World Cup, taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico, could be one of the hottest in the tournament's history. "It is important to see matches now in America, and in Miami at three in the afternoon," Tuchel said as he prepared his team for their World Cup qualifier against Andorra in Barcelona. "I will see that. How it looks, and we need to understand how to cool the players down, to drink. What our options are." England are top of qualifying Group K and almost certain to qualify for next year's tournament where they will be among the favourites for the title. But Tuchel says the conditions will be harsh. "Let's see because it is after the season, so it will be very similar. The actual experience is for the players, but I have done pre-season there in Orlando and I will be very surprised if we do not suffer," he said. "Suffering is one of the headlines for this World Cup." England are preparing for the Andorra game in the Spanish city of Girona and are using heat tents to test the players reaction and recovery to training in heat and humidity. Sixteen stadiums will be used at next year's World Cup with predictions of potentially extreme temperatures. In Dallas, one of the host cities, in an average year more than 80% of June and July days exceed 28 degrees Celsius. A study led by Brunel University found that, according to analysis of 20 years of weather data, 14 of the 16 host stadiums would top 28 degrees Celsius on a daily basis in June and July with four likely to hit 32 degrees in a hotter than summer. FIFPRO, the world players union, recommends that if there is Wet Bulb Globe Temperature of between 28-32 degree, cooling breaks should take place around the 30th and 75th minutes. It says that if there is a WBGT of more than 32 degrees, training and matches should be rescheduled. (Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond)
The Sun
15 hours ago
- The Sun
Premier League 2025/26: Top 5 Transfer Targets to Watch
PREMIER League clubs are already busy strengthening their squads for the 2025/26 season with an early transfer frenzy sparked by the upcoming Club World Cup. AFP Sports looks at five names to watch as the transfer window kicks into gear. Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen) Liverpool have shown no sign of resting on their laurels as English champions. After a quiet first year for Arne Slot in the transfer market, the Reds have moved quickly to back the Dutchman heavily this summer. The darling of German football, Wirtz looks set to smash the Premier League transfer record should he get his wish of a dream move to Anfield. Liverpool have reportedly had a bid worth up to £109 million ($147 million) rebuffed as Leverkusen hold out for a £125 million fee. That would break the record set by Chelsea's £115 million capture of Moises Caicedo from under Liverpool's noses two years ago. Wirtz was instrumental in Leverkusen's stunning German league and cup double in the 2023/24 season, plus a run to the Europa League final under Xabi Alonso. The two clubs have already agreed one deal as Jeremie Frimpong has joined Liverpool as a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold. Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd) Fresh from the club's worst season since they were relegated 51 years ago, losing their inspirational captain would appear to be the worst possible news for United. However, selling Fernandes to Saudi side Al Hilal could provide much-needed funds for Ruben Amorim to rebuild a squad in his image at Old Trafford. The Red Devils could land £100 million for the 30-year-old, who would become one of the world's highest paid players should be move to the Gulf. 'If the club thinks it's time to part ways because they want to do some cashing in or whatever, it is what it is and football sometimes is like this,' said Fernandes after United lost the Europa League final to Tottenham last month. Fernandes would leave enormous shoes to fill for a side already lacking in creativity and a goal threat. Despite a miserable campaign collectively, only Liverpool's Mohamed Salah provided more goal contributions last season among Premier League players in all competitions than Fernandes' 19 goals and 19 assists. Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) Mbeumo is one of United's key targets to end their woes in front of goal. The French-born Cameroon international enjoyed a stellar season with Brentford, scoring 20 times. Mbeumo revelled in becoming the Bees' star man since the departure of Ivan Toney and his partnership with Yoane Wissa carried Thomas Frank's men to an impressive top half finish. Despite interest from Arsenal, Newcastle and Tottenham, Mbeumo's preferred destination is reportedly Old Trafford if United can reach an agreement with Brentford. United have already added Matheus Cunha to bolster a misfiring forward line. Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting Lisbon) A remarkable 54-goal season for Sporting has made the Swede a target for a series of clubs seeking more firepower. Arsenal have been strongly linked with bringing Gyokeres back to England as Mikel Arteta seeks a clinical finisher to end the Gunners' five-year trophy drought. The 26-year-old has a 100 million euro (£84 million) buyout clause in his Sporting contract, but it is expected the Portuguese champions would settle for around 70 million euros. Despite six goals in eight Champions League games, there are doubts over Gyokeres' ability to transfer his prolific form in Portugal to the Premier League. He joined Sporting just two years ago from English second tier side Coventry after failing to make the grade at Brighton. Arsenal also have a long-standing interest in RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, while Newcastle's Alexander Isak appears an unattainable target after the Magpies qualified for the Champions League. Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) Eze will forever be a Palace legend after scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City to deliver the Eagles' first ever major trophy. The England international's eye for goal and a defence-splitting pass has seen him targeted by a plethora of the Premier League's best. City eye the 26-year-old as a potential replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, while Arsenal and Tottenham are also interested and could easily trigger his £68 million release clause.
