Goals from Miguel Rodríguez and Nelson Deossa were enough for the host Pachuca beat the America club 2-1, completing a 3-2 aggregate victory in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The two Mexican teams tied 1-1 in the first leg of the total goals semifinal series last week in Mexico City.
Pachuca heads to the final on June 2, where they will face either reigning MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew or Monterrey of Mexico. The Crew has a 2-1 lead heading into the second leg of their semifinal series on Wednesday in Guadalupe, Mexico.
Nelson Deossa (Pachuca) disputes the ball with Álvaro Fidalgo (América)
Pachuca took the lead in the 12th minute on Tuesday. Salomón Rondón’s long-range shot was blocked and slid into the area. Rodríguez reacted faster and ran for the rebound, then fired a left-footed shot from 14 meters.
Two minutes later, Pachuca doubled the lead. A counterattack on the right wing led to a shot by Erick Sánchez that was saved. Deossa followed up with a left-footed volley from the top of the box that cut through traffic. A header from Club América’s Henry Martín in the 23rd minute off a cross from Alex Zendejas cut the deficit in half.
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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.
