On Thursday, May 2, 2025, Cruz Azul faced Tigres in a thrilling second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario. With the first leg ending in a 1-1 draw, both teams were vying for a spot in the final against the Vancouver Whitecaps, who had eliminated Inter Miami in a shocking upset.
As the game kicked off, the atmosphere was electric, with fans from both sides filling the stands, eager to witness a decisive match. However, the match took a concerning turn for Cruz Azul when Gabriel 'Toro' Fernández suffered a knee injury in the 38th minute after a collision with Fernando Gorriarán. Despite his efforts to continue, he had to leave the field, replaced by Mateusz Bogusz, raising alarms among the Cruz Azul faithful who remembered Fernández's previous long-term injury to the same knee.
In the early moments of the match, Tigres nearly took the lead when Nico Ibáñez scored a goal in the 2nd minute, but it was called offside, much to the relief of the home crowd. Just a few minutes later, Juan Brunetta attempted a shot from outside the box, which was expertly saved by Cruz Azul's Kevin Mier.
The first half saw both teams struggle to find the back of the net, with Cruz Azul's best chance coming from Ignacio Rivero in the 27th minute, whose header was saved by Nahuel Guzmán. As the whistle blew for halftime, the score remained 0-0, a result that favored Cruz Azul due to the away goals rule from the first leg.
As the second half commenced, both teams ramped up their efforts, knowing that a single goal could change the dynamics of the match. In the 81st minute, Cruz Azul finally broke the deadlock when Ángel Baltazar Sepúlveda converted a penalty after a handball by Marcelo Flores. The goal sent the home fans into a frenzy, as Cruz Azul now led 1-0 and was ahead 2-1 on aggregate.
However, the drama did not end there. In the 88th minute, Tigres thought they had equalized when Uriel Antuna found the net, but once again, the goal was disallowed for offside, leaving the Tigres players and fans in disbelief.
With the clock ticking down, Cruz Azul had to withstand intense pressure from Tigres, who were desperate for an equalizer. The match extended into 10 minutes of added time, but despite several attempts, Tigres could not find a way past Mier, who stood firm in goal.
As the final whistle blew, Cruz Azul emerged victorious with a 1-0 win on the night, securing their place in the final with a 2-1 aggregate score. The players celebrated on the field, and coach Vicente Sánchez expressed his pride in the team's performance, particularly in overcoming the adversity of Fernández's injury.
“We knew it would be a tough match, but we stayed focused and executed our game plan,” Sánchez said in the post-match interview. “We’re excited to be in the final and will prepare diligently for our next opponent.”
Cruz Azul's victory marks their return to the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, a tournament they last won in 2014. The team has a storied history in this competition, having claimed the title six times, and they are eager to add another trophy to their cabinet.
On the other hand, Tigres will be left to reflect on what could have been, as they had their chances but ultimately fell short. Coach Guido Pizarro expressed disappointment but acknowledged the effort of his players. “We fought hard, but sometimes the game doesn’t go your way,” he stated. “We’ll learn from this and come back stronger.”
As Cruz Azul prepares for their final against the Vancouver Whitecaps, all eyes will be on the team to see if they can secure their seventh Champions Cup title and solidify their status as one of the top clubs in North America.
The final is set to be an exciting clash, with both teams eager to claim the prestigious trophy. Fans are already buzzing with anticipation, and the stage is set for a thrilling encounter.
With the CONCACAF Champions Cup final on the horizon, Cruz Azul's journey continues, and the team is determined to seize the moment and bring home the title.
