Angel Sepulveda of Mexico’s Cruz Azul (9) celebrates scoring his side’s opening goal from the penalty spot alongside Erik Lira against Mexico’s Tigres during a CONCACAF Champions Cup second leg semifinal soccer match in Mexico City, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Angel Sepulveda of Mexico’s Cruz Azul celebrates scoring his side’s opening goal from the penalty spot against Mexico’s Tigres during a CONCACAF Champions Cup second leg semifinal soccer match in Mexico City, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Amaury Morales of Mexico’s Cruz Azul, left, attempts a shot on goal challenged by Jesus Angulo of Mexico’s Tigres during a CONCACAF Champions Cup second leg semifinal soccer match in Mexico City, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Ignacio Rivero of Mexico’s Cruz Azul, front, falls on the pitch challenged by Fernando Gorriaran of Mexico’s Tigres during a CONCACAF Champions Cup second leg semifinal soccer match in Mexico City, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Players of Mexico’s Cruz Azul and Mexico’s Tigres argue during a CONCACAF Champions Cup second leg semifinal soccer match in Mexico City, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Angel Sepulveda of Mexico’s Cruz Azul celebrates scoring his side’s opening goal from the penalty spot against Mexico’s Tigres during a CONCACAF Champions Cup second leg semifinal soccer match in Mexico City, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Cruz Azul beats the UANL Tigres and will play Vancouver in the CONCACAF final
MEXICO CITY (AP) 鈥 Striker Angel Sepulveda scored on a penalty kick late in the match and Cruz Azul defeated the UANL Tigres 1-0 on Thursday to progress to the CONCACAF Champions Cup final where they will play the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Angel Sepulveda of Mexico’s Cruz Azul (9) celebrates scoring his side’s opening goal from the penalty spot alongside Erik Lira against Mexico’s Tigres during a CONCACAF Champions Cup second leg semifinal soccer match in Mexico City, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
MEXICO CITY (AP) 鈥 Striker Angel Sepulveda scored on a penalty kick late in the match and Cruz Azul defeated the UANL Tigres 1-0 on Thursday to progress to the CONCACAF Champions Cup final where they will play the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The 34-year-old Sepulveda converted in the 81st minute for the Mexico City team. He leads the tournament with seven goals and two assists.
鈥淚 was able to help to get the win today and to qualify for the final long-awaited final for us,鈥 Sepulveda said. 鈥淲e take pride in being back in the final, it is a big step, and we deserve to win it, we respect Vancouver, but we are going to try to win it.鈥
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The first leg of the series eneded in a 1-1 draw.
The Inter Miami on the other side of the bracket.
Mexican teams have won nine of the last 10 finals of the tournament.
Cruz Azul in the previous round to progress to the semifinals for the first time since 2022 and now is aiming to equal its crosstown rival as the club in the region with seven titles.
La Maquina is seeking its first regional crown since 2013-14 when it beat Tijuana.
The Monterrey-based Tigres had advanced over and were trying to capture their first CONCACAF title since 2020.
The match was evenly played until Marcelo Flores deflected the ball with his hand inside the area for a penalty kick that Sepulveda converted with a shot straight down the middle.
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