Sepulveda strike sends Cruz Azul to Champions Cup Final | OneFootball

MEXICO CITY – Cruz Azul advanced to the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup Final after defeating Tigres UANL 1-nil, winning 2-1 on aggregate, in the second leg of their semifinal’s series on Thursday at Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City, Mexico.

Juan Brunetta had a dangerous look for the visitors in the 6’, but his powerful long-range attempt was rejected by a diving save from Cruz Azul goalkeeper Kevin Mier.

Cruz Azul had an opportunity of its own in the 27’, with a header from Ignacio Rivero from the center of the box that was saved by Tigres goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán.

Tigres defender Jesús Angulo had a notable intervention at the back in the 41’, with a perfectly timed sliding tackle to block an attempt inside the box from Mateusz Bogusz.

Brunetta had another opportunity in the 58’, this time with a volley from the left end of the opposition’s box that was just wide of the mark.

Ángel Sepulveda came close to opening the scoring for Cruz Azul in the 60’ with a shot from the center of the box following a ground pass from Carlos Rotondi, but the attempt was met by a save from Guzmán.

Sepulveda found the breakthrough goal for the hosts from the penalty spot in the 82’, extending his lead in the Golden Boot race to seven goals.

After the 1-1 draw in the first leg, Sepulveda’s strike hands La Máquina an outright 2-1 win on aggregate.

Cruz Azul will face Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup Final in search of clinching a record-tying seventh title.

Post-Match- Data

Cruz Azul won their last two home games against Mexican teams in

the Concacaf Champions Cup: tonight, and the 2-1 victory against América in this year’s quarterfinals. This the first time they recorded consecutive home wins against Mexican opponents in the competition since winning three in a row in 2010-11.

● This is the fourth home win for Cruz Azul in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup. It’s their most home victories in a single season of the tournament since 2013-14, also with four. In that season, they not only qualified for the final but won the tournament.

● Carlos Rotondi is the first Cruz Azul player to have at least two completed dribbles, two chances created and five attempted crosses in a Concacaf Champions Cup match since 2022, when Uriel Antuna had two, five and six respectively. The Argentine today had five crosses, two chances created and three successful dribbles against Tigres.

● Only Hugo Ayala in 2017 against Pumas (11) had more clearances for Tigres in a Concacaf Champions Cup match since the 2016-17 season than Juan Purata today against Cruz Azul (10).

● Ángel Sepúlveda scored his competition-leading seventh goal in this season’s Concacaf Champions Cup. Sepúlveda is the first Mexican player to score seven goals in a single edition of the tournament since Hirving Lozano for Pachuca in 2016-17 (8 goals).