Latest news with #IntercontinentalCup
France 24
21 hours 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.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Alexander-Arnold gets new financial incentive after finally joining Real Madrid
Real Madrid have reached a deal with Liverpool to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold before his contract expires, with the Spanish giants hoping to win the Club World Cup Trent Alexander-Arnold will reportedly earn a major bonus if he helps Real Madrid win the Club World Cup after they paid Liverpool an eight-figure fee to sign the defender before the tournament gets underway next month. Alexander-Arnold was set to join Madrid on a free transfer when his Liverpool deal expired on June 30, but it was announced on Friday that they have agreed to pay the Reds a total of £10million to sign him a month early. Madrid are paying an £8.4m fee and his remaining wages in order to have Alexander-Arnold available for the entirety of the Club World Cup. And according to a report from Spanish outlet AS, Madrid view the Club World Cup as the 'most important' competition of the season. It is claimed Madrid are desperate to win the first edition of the newly revamped tournament, having been the inaugural winners of the European Cup in 1956 and the Intercontinental Cup in 1960. As a result, the report claims that Madrid are set to pay each player a bonus of around €1m (£843,000) if they lift the trophy on July 13. The tournament will also mark the start of the Xabi Alonso era after he replaced Carlo Ancelotti in the dugout. Alonso, who spent five seasons at the club as a player, has signed a three-year deal to replace Ancelotti after an impressive stint in charge of Bayer Leverkusen that saw him guide them to their first Bundesliga title. And Alonso is hoping his time in charge will get off to a perfect start by winning the Club World Cup. "That's the way circumstance had it. Once that happens I see it as an opportunity for two reasons," Alonso said at his official unveiling earlier this month. "One, because it means that we can accelerate processes, get to know each other sooner, see things that we want to be. Then it's a chance to fight for another trophy. It's the first Club World Cup and the ambition is complete. "If we can bring together those two things then it can be a very good start, and as of today that is what I have in mind. We can do nice things, that ignite people. That's what we have come for." Alonso also paid tribute to his predecessor Ancelotti, having been managed by the Italian during spells at both Madrid and Bayern Munich. "The cycle has come to an end under Ancelotti, who was my coach," he added. "He left a mark on me and has been a huge influence. I wouldn't be here without all I learned from him. I'm honoured to take over from him and proud to be in a place where he achieved so much. I hope I can live up to the expectations. "We're starting out on a new era and I feel like we have a fantastic team. That's what fills me with the energy to come here, to try and get the best out of every single player as we build a great team. We can achieve big things worthy of Real Madrid and all they have won in the past."
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
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.
The Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-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 MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - 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. (Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Toby Davis)
The Star
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Pachuca part ways with manager Almada before Club World Cup
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Intercontinental Cup - Derby of the Americas - Botafogo v Pachuca - Stadium 974, Doha, Qatar - December 11, 2024 Pachuca coach Guillermo Almada reacts. REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari/File Photo (Reuters) -CF Pachuca have parted ways with manager Guillermo Almada weeks before they kick off their Club World Cup campaign, the Mexican club said on Wednesday. Uruguayan Almada, who joined three-and-a-half years ago, led Pachuca to the CONCACAF Champions Cup title last year, sealing their place in the Club World Cup. Pachuca also reached the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in December, where they lost to Real Madrid. The manager bid an emotional farewell to players, staff and directors on Wednesday, Pachuca said in a statement, without giving a reason for his departure. In March, FIFA said Liga MX sides Pachuca and Club Leon had failed to meet criteria on multi-club ownership and removed Leon from the Club World Cup. The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected Leon's appeal against the removal earlier this month. Pachuca's spot in the 32-team Club World Cup, set to kick off in the U.S. on June 14, was unaffected. (Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
