Latest news with #AngelSepulveda
Canada Standard
3 days ago
- Sport
- Canada Standard
Mexico's Cruz Azul wins CONCACAF Champions Cup
Xinhua 02 Jun 2025, 12:46 GMT+10 MEXICO CITY, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Mexico international forward Angel Sepulveda scored twice as Cruz Azul clinched the CONCACAF Champions Cup with a 5-0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday. Ignacio Rivero gave the Mexican side the lead in the eighth minute at Estadio Olimpico Universitario by sweeping a low first-time shot into the far corner. Lorenzo Faravelli doubled the lead when he capitalized on a defensive error to fire home from outside the area. Sepulveda made it 3-0 with a sliding effort from inside the six-yard box after meeting Carlos Rotondi's cross at the near post. Poland international midfielder Mateusz Bogusz completed a dominant first-half from the hosts as he intercepted a wayward defensive clearance and sent a 16-yard drive into the far corner. The Canadian club struggled to keep possession and failed to put a single shot on target against the Liga MX side, which shifted into cruise control for much of the second half. Sepulveda was irrepressible and the 34-year-old completed the rout by heading home after Jorge Sanchez's floating cross. Cruz Azul earned the right to host the final due to its superior record throughout the tournament. The triumph put Cruz Azul level with its Mexico City rival America as the most successful clubs in the history of the competition with seven titles each. The result means Cruz Azul automatically qualifies for the next editions of the FIFA Club World Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Cruz Azul thrash Vancouver Whitecaps to win CONCACAF Champions Cup
Mexico's Cruz Azul smashed the Vancouver Whitecaps 5-0 to win the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Sunday for a record-equalling seventh time. Angel Sepulveda scored twice for Cruz Azul, who led 4-0 at half-time in Mexico City and equal rivals Club America's record of seven CONCACAF titles. Sepulveda finished as the tournament's top-scorer with nine goals while the Whitecaps became the third Canadian team to reach the final and lose. It was also the third straight year in which an MLS team has been beaten by a Mexican club in the continental final. The Whitecaps had high hopes of becoming the first Canadian team to win the trophy having beaten two top Mexican teams, Monterrey and Pumas, on their journey to their first appearance in the final. But they were utterly outclassed by the Mexico City club. It was an uncharacteristically poor performance from Jesper Sorensen's Whitecaps, who were punished by some ruthless finishing from the Mexican side. Cruz Azul enjoyed home advantage at their Estadio Olimpico Universitario and they immediately brought the crowd to their feet with an eighth-minute opener. The Whitecaps gave the ball away in their own half and Carlos Rotondi pounced, threading the ball through to Ignacio Rivero, who took it first time with his left foot to fire into the far corner. It was another giveaway that led to the second, 20 minutes later, when Andres Cubas lost possession and Lorenzo Faravelli showed no hesitation as he unleashed a fierce drive which crashed in off the inside of the post. The Whitecaps, who beat Inter Miami in the semi-final to reach their first CONCACAF title game, looked nothing like the team that has impressed so much this season and they were soon in deeper trouble. The Vancouver defence were slow to react to a quick throw-in and Rotondi broke down the left and delivered a pinpoint low cross which Sepulveda deftly flicked past Yohei Takaoka. It was one-way traffic and Vancouver were punished again when a half-clearance fell to Polish midfielder Mateusz Bogusz just outside the box. The former Los Angeles FC player drilled home from the edge of the box. Cruz Azul went in at half-time having scored four goals from four attempts on goal and with their opponents looking shell-shocked. It got worse five minutes after the restart when Cubas was robbed again in deep midfield and from the counter-attack Jorge Sanchez crossed and Sepulveda rose superbly to head home his second and his ninth goal in the competition. "We took the final very seriously and it was a perfect performance. The truth is that we had the game wrapped up by half-time," said Mexican international Sepulveda. Daniel Rios, Vancouver's Mexican striker said the team had been impacted by playing at high altitude with the game played at 2,240 metres (7,350 feet) above sea level. "We made a couple of mistakes and they were very decisive every time they attacked. The altitude really affected us, we couldn't adapt and we're going home disappointed," he said. The victory gave Cruz Azul qualification for two FIFA competitions -- the 2025 Intercontinental Cup and the 2029 Club World Cup.
France 24
3 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Cruz Azul thrash Vancouver Whitecaps to win CONCACAF Champions Cup
Angel Sepulveda scored twice for Cruz Azul, who led 4-0 at half-time in Mexico City and equal rivals Club America's record of seven CONCACAF titles. Sepulveda finished as the tournament's top-scorer with nine goals while the Whitecaps became the third Canadian team to reach the final and lose. It was also the third straight year in which an MLS team has been beaten by a Mexican club in the continental final. The Whitecaps had high hopes of becoming the first Canadian team to win the trophy having beaten two top Mexican teams, Monterrey and Pumas, on their journey to their first appearance in the final. But they were utterly outclassed by the Mexico City club. It was an uncharacteristically poor performance from Jesper Sorensen's Whitecaps, who were punished by some ruthless finishing from the Mexican side. Cruz Azul enjoyed home advantage at their Estadio Olimpico Universitario and they immediately brought the crowd to their feet with an eighth-minute opener. The Whitecaps gave the ball away in their own half and Carlos Rotondi pounced, threading the ball through to Ignacio Rivero, who took it first time with his left foot to fire into the far corner. It was another giveaway that led to the second, 20 minutes later, when Andres Cubas lost possession and Lorenzo Faravelli showed no hesitation as he unleashed a fierce drive which crashed in off the inside of the post. The Whitecaps, who beat Inter Miami in the semi-final to reach their first CONCACAF title game, looked nothing like the team that has impressed so much this season and they were soon in deeper trouble. The Vancouver defence were slow to react to a quick throw-in and Rotondi broke down the left and delivered a pinpoint low cross which Sepulveda deftly flicked past Yohei Takaoka. It was one-way traffic and Vancouver were punished again when a half-clearance fell to Polish midfielder Mateusz Bogusz just outside the box. The former Los Angeles FC player drilled home from the edge of the box. Cruz Azul went in at half-time having scored four goals from four attempts on goal and with their opponents looking shell-shocked. It got worse five minutes after the restart when Cubas was robbed again in deep midfield and from the counter-attack Jorge Sanchez crossed and Sepulveda rose superbly to head home his second and his ninth goal in the competition. "We took the final very seriously and it was a perfect performance. The truth is that we had the game wrapped up by half-time," said Mexican international Sepulveda. Daniel Rios, Vancouver's Mexican striker said the team had been impacted by playing at high altitude with the game played at 2,240 metres (7,350 feet) above sea level. "We made a couple of mistakes and they were very decisive every time they attacked. The altitude really affected us, we couldn't adapt and we're going home disappointed," he said. The victory gave Cruz Azul qualification for two FIFA competitions -- the 2025 Intercontinental Cup and the 2029 Club World Cup.
CNA
3 days ago
- Business
- CNA
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 on Sunday. 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.
Fox Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Cruz Azul beats Vancouver Whitecaps 5-0 for CONCACAF Champions Cup title
Angel Sepulveda scored twice and Cruz Azul routed the Vancouver Whitecaps 5-0 on Sunday to win its seventh CONCACAF Champions Cup. Sepúlveda finished with a tournament-best nine goals. Ignacio Rivero, Lorenzo Faravelli and Mateusz Bogusz also scored for Cruz Azul, which built a 4-0 lead by halftime. The Liga MX club tied crosstown rival Club America for most titles in the tournament. It was Cruz Azul's first title since 2013-14 when La Máquina beat Tijuana. The Whitecaps were looking to make history as the first Canadian team to win the tournament, and the first winner from Major League Soccer since the Seattle Sounders in 2022. Cruz Azul had four shots on goal in the first half and scored on all of them. La Máquina took advantage of a defensive lapse by the Whitecaps and Ignacio Rivero coolly finished with his left foot in the seventh minute in front of cheering home fans at Estadio Olímpico Universitario. Faravelli's goal came after a similar defensive lapse, struck from distance and went into the net after hitting the post. After Sepúlveda's sliding goal in the 37th, Bogusz added a goal in the 45th just before the teams went into the break. Sepúlveda added another goal on a header in the 50th. It was Cruz Azul goalkeeper Kevin Mier's fourth clean sheet of the tournament. The Whitecaps had no shots on goal during the match. Vancouver was without Sebastian Berhalter because of yellow card accumulation. He scored in both legs of the semifinal against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami. The Whitecaps had hoped that captain Ryan Gauld would return from a knee injury in time for the game but he was not available. Cruz Azul advanced with a two-legged victory over UANL Tigres. It was the first meeting between the Whitecaps and Cruz Azul. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! Get more from CONCACAF Champions Cup Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
