Cruz Azul dispatch Tigres to reach the CONCACAF Champions Cup Final | OneFootball

The final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup is set after storied Mexican out Cruz Azul outlasted Tigres UNAL during an entertaining 1-0 semi-final win in Mexico City.

Scorers: Sepúlveda 82' (pen)

Tigres were very much in the mood across the opening exchanges at Estadio Olímpico Universitario, coming close to bagging an opening strike on two occasions inside the first seven minutes, including having a goal pulled back for offside.

Cruz Azul finally settled into the match, however, and began to craft chances of their own while looking to hit Tigres on the break, with none better than a close-range header from Cruz Azul captain Ignacio Rivero that was well-saved by Nahuel Guzmán to keep the scoreline level just before the half-hour mark.

A big chance would go begging once again on the hour mark for Cruz Azul when Sepúlveda found himself free inside 12 yards and with a golden chance to open the scoring, but his tame effort would gracefully be dispatched right at Guzmán.

It was Rivero's turn to be denied again from close range after Cruz Azul blitzed into Tigres' box in the 70th minute, but once again, Guzmán stood up to scrutiny to keep the scoreline level.

The deadlock would finally be shattered in the 80th minute when VAR intervened to give Cruz Azul a penalty after substitute Marcelo Flores was judged to have committed handball, with Sepúlveda finally getting on the scoresheet when he dispatched his effort from 12 yards out.

Tigres, despite a late push for an equalizer, and with that, Liga MX will be hoping to add to their dominance of the competition in June with the final featuring a Mexican side for the 21st consecutive campaign, and a ninth finals appearance for the Mexican giants and a first since 2014.

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