Early goals from Miguel Rodriguez and Nelson Deossa were enough for host Pachuca to beat Club America 2-1 on Tuesday, completing a 3-2 aggregate victory in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The Mexican rivals played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the total-goal semifinal series last week in Mexico City.
Pachuca head to the June 2 final, where they will oppose either the reigning MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew or Mexico’s Monterrey. The Crew hold a 2-1 edge heading into the second leg of their semifinal series on Wednesday in Guadalupe, Mexico.
Pachuca jumped in front in the 12th minute on Tuesday. Salomon Rondon’s long-range shot was blocked and skidded into the penalty area. Rodriguez reacted quickest and ran onto the rebound, then fired home a left-footed shot from 14 yards out.
Two minutes later, Pachuca doubled the lead. A counterattack down the right flank led to a shot by Erick Sanchez that was saved. Deossa followed up with a left-footed volley from the top of the box that found its way in through traffic.
A 23rd-minute header from Club America’s Henry Martin off a cross from Alex Zendejas sliced the deficit in half.
The visitors’ chances of a comeback were dimmed when Israel Reyes received a red card in the 90th minute for a foul on Deossa.
Pachuca is headed to the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, formerly known as the CONCACAF Champions League, for the sixth time, having never lost the title match.
–Field Level Media
