Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

2018 CONCACAF Champions League final

2018 CONCACAF Champions League final
Event2018 CONCACAF Champions League
on aggregate
Guadalajara won 4–2 on penalties
First leg
Date17 April 2018 (2018-04-17)
VenueBMO Field, Toronto
Man of the MatchRodolfo Pizarro (Guadalajara)[1]
RefereeRicardo Montero (Costa Rica)[2]
Attendance29,925[3]
WeatherCloudy
2 °C (36 °F)
59% humidity[4]
Second leg
Date25 April 2018 (2018-04-25)
VenueEstadio Akron, Guadalajara
Man of the MatchRodolfo Cota (Guadalajara)[1]
RefereeÓscar Moncada (Honduras)[5]
Attendance36,977[6]
WeatherClear
27 °C (81 °F)
13% humidity[7]
2017
2019

The 2018 CONCACAF Champions League final was the final round of the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League, the championship for association football clubs in CONCACAF, representing North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The 2018 edition was the tenth edition of the CONCACAF Champions League under its current name and first since being re-organized into a single-year tournament.

The final was contested in a two-legged series between Toronto FC from Canada and Guadalajara from Mexico. The first leg was hosted in Toronto on 27 April 2018, at BMO Field in Toronto, while the second leg was hosted in Guadalajara on 25 April 2018, at the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara.[8][9] Guadalajara won the final 4–2 in a penalty shoot-out after the series was tied 3–3 on aggregate. As a result, they earned the right to represent CONCACAF at the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup, entering at the second round.

Teams

In the following table, final until 2008 were in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup era, since 2009 were in the CONCACAF Champions League era.

Team Zone Previous final appearances (bold indicates winners)
Canada Toronto FC North America (NAFU) None
Mexico Guadalajara North America (NAFU) 3 (1962, 1963, 2007)

Venues

BMO Field in Toronto, Canada hosted the first leg
Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico hosted the second leg

Toronto's BMO Field, with a seating capacity of 30,000, hosted the first leg of the final; it opened in 2007 and was renovated in 2016.[10] The second leg took place in Guadalajara at the Estadio Akron, which opened in 2010 and has a capacity of 48,071.[11][12] The two stadiums hosting the final were also candidates for the 2026 FIFA World Cup bid shared between Canada, Mexico, and the United States,[11] although only Estadio Akron was eventually selected.[13]

Background

The CONCACAF Champions League was established in 2008 as the continental championship for football clubs in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, succeeding the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. During its first nine editions, the Champions League consisted of a group stage in summer and autumn followed by a knockout stage during the following spring.[14] Beginning with the 2018 edition of the tournament, the group stage was re-formed as the CONCACAF League and limited to Central American and Caribbean teams. The Champions League was shortened to a two-month knockout tournament between teams from North American and major Central American nations, as well as the winner of the CONCACAF League.[15] The knockout tournament falls within the beginning of Major League Soccer's season, which operates on a summer schedule unlike other football leagues.[16]

Toronto FC were appearing in their first final, and were the second Canadian team to have reached the final after Montreal Impact finished as runners-up in 2015.[17][18] Only four teams from Major League Soccer (three American, one Canadian) on five occasions had managed to reach the final of the Champions League or the Champions' Cup. In addition to Montreal Impact, LA Galaxy (in 1997) and Real Salt Lake (in 2011) had previously lost in the final. D.C. United (in 1998) and LA Galaxy (in 2000) were the only two MLS teams to have won the competition, doing so during the Champions' Cup era.[19] Of these five finals, four were against Mexican opponents, with only D.C. United managing to win.[20]

Guadalajara had previously appeared in three finals, all in the Champions' Cup era. They won the inaugural edition in 1962, before finishing second the following year after withdrawing from the final. Guadalajara appeared in their next final 44 years later in 2007, losing to fellow Mexican club Pachuca on penalties. Mexican teams were the most successful in the history of the Champions League/Champions' Cup, with a total of 12 teams having won a combined 33 titles. Mexican teams had appeared in every final since 2005, and won every tournament since 2006. There had been a total of eleven all-Mexican finals, all since 2002, including the previous two finals.[20]

Road to the final

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).

Canada Toronto FC Round Mexico Guadalajara
Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg
United States Colorado Rapids 2–0 2–0 (A) 0–0 (H) Round of 16 Dominican Republic Cibao 7–0 2–0 (A) 5–0 (H)
Mexico UANL 4–4 (a) 2–1 (H) 2–3 (A) Quarter-finals United States Seattle Sounders FC 3–1 0–1 (A) 3–0 (H)
Mexico América 4–2 3–1 (H) 1–1 (A) Semi-finals United States New York Red Bulls 1–0 1–0 (H) 0–0 (A)

Toronto FC

Toronto FC qualified for the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League as winners of the 2016 and 2017 editions of the Canadian Championship.[21] The berth was originally going to be determined via a play-off match in August 2017 between the winners of the two tournaments had another team won either edition, due to the restructuring of the Champions League.[22] Toronto had appeared in four prior Champions Leagues, finishing as high as the semi-finals in 2011–12, losing to eventual runners-up Santos Laguna.[23] The team also won the 2017 MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield, completing MLS's first ever domestic treble, but could not qualify for the Champions League through either because the berths were designated for a team from the United States.[24] Ironically, Toronto's coach, assistant coach, and several starting players were previous part of Chivas USA, an MLS team affiliated and wholly owned by Guadalajara.[25]

Toronto was placed into Pot 1 and drawn against fellow MLS club Colorado Rapids in the Round of 16.[26] Toronto played the first leg away in Commerce City, Colorado on February 20, winning 2–0 during the coldest ever match involving MLS teams, measured at 3 °F (−16 °C) at kickoff and −16 °F (−27 °C) with wind chill.[27] The team advanced into the quarter-finals with a 0–0 draw at home in Toronto, winning the series 2–0 on aggregate.[28] Toronto played Mexican champions Tigres UANL in the quarter-finals and won the home leg 2–1 with a late goal from Jonathan Osorio.[29] The team took a 2–1 lead in the away leg, but two goals from André-Pierre Gignac gave Tigres a 3–2 win and a 4–4 aggregate tie. Toronto advanced on away goals, becoming one of two MLS teams to advance to the semi-finals.[30][31]

Toronto hosted the first leg of the semi-finals against Club América on April 3, winning 3–1 after two unanswered goals in the 44th and 58th minutes.[32] The match included a half-time altercation between Toronto and América players, in which América coach Miguel Herrera accused Toronto Police of assaulting his players.[33] To prepare for the away leg at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Toronto moved a league fixture and spent several days acclimating to the altitude in Pachuca.[34][35] In the away leg, Toronto took an early lead in the 12th minute, but América equalized on a last-minute penalty, bringing the aggregate score to 4–2.[17] Toronto became the third Major League Soccer team and second Canadian team to advance to a Champions League final, following Real Salt Lake in 2011 and the Montreal Impact in 2015.[17]

Guadalajara

C.D. Guadalajara, also known as Chivas, qualified for the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League as winners of the 2017 Clausura in Liga MX.[36] The 2018 tournament was the team's second under the current Champions League format, having finished in the group stage in 2012–13.[37] Under manager Matías Almeyda, Chivas advanced to seven finals in various tournaments since 2015.[38]

Guadalajara was drawn with Cibao FC, winners of the 2017 CONCACAF League, in the Round of 16. The team stayed in Puerto Plata, approximately 45 miles (72 km) from the stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros, due to a tobacco growers' conference that filled available hotel space.[39] Guadalajara won the first leg in the Dominican Republic by a 2–0 margin and the second leg 5–0.[40] In the quarter-finals, Guadalajara played Seattle Sounders FC of MLS and lost the first leg 1–0 away in Seattle.[41] The return leg remained scoreless until the second half, which saw three goals from Chivas to win the match 3–0.[42] Chivas advanced to the final on a 1–0 aggregate win over the New York Red Bulls in the semi-finals. Isaác Brizuela scored the lone goal of the series in the first leg, played in Guadalajara, while the second leg in New Jersey ended scoreless.[43][44]

Format

The final was played in a home-and-away two-legged series, with the team with the better performance in previous rounds hosting the second leg.

If the aggregate score was tied after the second leg, the away goals rule would be applied, and if still tied, a penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner.[45]

Performance ranking

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Host
1 Mexico Guadalajara 6 4 1 1 11 1 +10 13 Second leg
2 Canada Toronto FC 6 3 2 1 10 6 +4 11 First leg
Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Away goals scored; 5) Wins; 6) Away wins; 7) Drawing of lots.[45]

Broadcasting

Both legs of the final were broadcast in English on TSN2 in Canada and in Spanish on Univision Deportes in the United States, where it was also aired on sister station UniMás. Fox Sports broadcast in Mexico and the rest of Latin America.[46][47][48] Go90 also streamed the games in English in the United States.[49]

Matches

First leg

Summary

The first leg was hosted in Toronto at BMO Field on 17 April, where the kickoff temperature was 1 °C (34 °F) and snow flurries fell through the match.[3] Prior to the match, the new Champions League trophy was unveiled by CONCACAF officials.[50]

Chivas took the lead in the second minute on a goal scored by Rodolfo Pizarro, during an attack that originated from a throw-in by Isaác Brizuela, who assisted Pizarro's goal.[50] Toronto's Jonathan Osorio scored the equalizing goal in the 19th minute, finishing an attack started by Mark Delgado deep in the midfield. Toronto took control of possession and shooting chances through to halftime, but failed to score after two saves by Chivas's backup goalkeeper Miguel Jiménez.[50][51] During the first half, Toronto's Jozy Altidore vomited several times on the pitch — the cause being a "stomach bug" that several Toronto players reportedly received in the semi-finals against América.[52] Chivas regained partial control of the match in the second half, alternating attacks with Toronto as both teams sought to take the lead.[50][53] Chivas scored the match's winning goal in the 72nd minute on a free kick by Alan Pulido, which was misread by goalkeeper Alex Bono and ended up in the far side of the goal.[3][54] Toronto failed to finish in its later attacks, which also included a no-call penalty for an alleged foul on Sebastian Giovinco.[55][56]

Details

Toronto FC Canada1–2Mexico Guadalajara
Report
Attendance: 29,925[3]
Toronto FC[2]
Guadalajara[2]
GK 25 United States Alex Bono
CB 9 Netherlands Gregory van der Wiel
CB 3 United States Drew Moor
CB 23 Democratic Republic of the Congo Chris Mavinga downward-facing red arrow 46'
RM 96 Brazil Auro Jr.
CM 18 United States Mark Delgado downward-facing red arrow 81'
CM 4 United States Michael Bradley (c)
CM 21 Canada Jonathan Osorio
LM 5 Canada Ashtone Morgan downward-facing red arrow 67'
CF 17 United States Jozy Altidore
CF 10 Italy Sebastian Giovinco
Substitutes:
GK 1 United States Clint Irwin
DF 2 United States Justin Morrow upward-facing green arrow 67'
DF 15 United States Eriq Zavaleta upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 8 Spain Ager Aketxe upward-facing green arrow 81'
MF 26 Liechtenstein Nicolas Hasler
FW 22 Canada Jordan Hamilton
FW 87 Canada Tosaint Ricketts
Manager:
United States Greg Vanney
GK 34 Mexico Miguel Jiménez
RB 11 Mexico Isaác Brizuela Yellow card 64'
CB 3 Mexico Carlos Salcido (c)
CB 2 Mexico Oswaldo Alanís
LB 88 Mexico Alejandro Mayorga downward-facing red arrow 71'
CM 7 Mexico Orbelín Pineda
CM 25 Mexico Michael Pérez
RW 24 Mexico Carlos Cisneros
AM 9 Mexico Alan Pulido downward-facing red arrow 90+4'
LW 20 Mexico Rodolfo Pizarro
CF 89 Mexico Jesús Godínez downward-facing red arrow 77'
Substitutes:
GK 1 Mexico Antonio Rodríguez
DF 28 Mexico Miguel Basulto
MF 10 Mexico Javier López upward-facing green arrow 71'
MF 13 Mexico Gael Sandoval
MF 23 Mexico Fernando Beltrán
FW 14 Mexico Ángel Zaldívar upward-facing green arrow 77'
FW 18 Mexico José Macías upward-facing green arrow 90+4'
Manager:
Argentina Matías Almeyda

Man of the Match:
Rodolfo Pizarro (Guadalajara)[1]

Assistant referees:[2]
Juan Carlos Mora (Costa Rica)
Ainsley Rochard (Trinidad and Tobago)
Fourth official:[2]
Saíd Martínez (Honduras)

Match rules[45]

  • 90 minutes.
  • Seven named substitutes, of which up to three may be used.

Statistics

Statistic[57] Toronto FC Guadalajara
Goals scored 1 2
Total shots 19 15
Shots on target 13 7
Saves 5 12
Ball possession 52% 48%
Corner kicks 11 4
Fouls committed 11 15
Offsides 1 4
Yellow cards 0 1
Red cards 0 0

Second leg

Summary

The second leg was hosted in Guadalajara at Estadio Akron on 25 April. Toronto fielded some midfielders and wingbacks in defensive roles due to injuries, including captain Michael Bradley and right back Gregory van der Wiel; midfielder Víctor Vázquez returned from injury to start the match.[58] Chivas extended their aggregate lead to 3–1 on a goal scored by Orbelín Pineda in the 19th minute. Toronto responded with two goals in the 25th and 44th minutes by Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco, bringing the series level on aggregate. The 2–1 lead for Toronto held through to the end of the second half, despite chances from both teams, including a missed shot by Toronto's Mark Delgado.[59][60] The final was decided in a penalty shoot-out, which was won 4–2 by Guadalajara after four rounds. All four of Chivas's penalty takers scored, while Toronto's Jonathan Osorio and Michael Bradley both missed.[59][61][62]

Details

Guadalajara Mexico1–2Canada Toronto FC
Report
Penalties
4–2
Attendance: 36,977[6]
Referee: Óscar Moncada (Honduras)
Guadalajara[5]
Toronto FC[5]
GK 30 Mexico Rodolfo Cota
RB 11 Mexico Isaác Brizuela downward-facing red arrow 68'
CB 4 Mexico Jair Pereira
CB 2 Mexico Oswaldo Alanís
LB 6 Mexico Edwin Hernández
CM 3 Mexico Carlos Salcido (c) downward-facing red arrow 55'
CM 25 Mexico Michael Pérez downward-facing red arrow 68'
RW 24 Mexico Carlos Cisneros
AM 7 Mexico Orbelín Pineda
LW 20 Mexico Rodolfo Pizarro
CF 9 Mexico Alan Pulido
Substitutes:
GK 34 Mexico Miguel Jiménez
DF 28 Mexico Miguel Basulto
MF 10 Mexico Javier López upward-facing green arrow 68'
MF 13 Mexico Gael Sandoval
MF 23 Mexico Fernando Beltrán
FW 14 Mexico Ángel Zaldívar upward-facing green arrow 68'
FW 89 Mexico Jesús Godínez upward-facing green arrow 55'
Manager:
Argentina Matías Almeyda
GK 25 United States Alex Bono
RB 96 Brazil Auro Jr. Yellow card 84'
CB 9 Netherlands Gregory van der Wiel
CB 4 United States Michael Bradley (c)
LB 5 Canada Ashtone Morgan
RM 26 Liechtenstein Nicolas Hasler downward-facing red arrow 57'
CM 18 United States Mark Delgado
CM 21 Canada Jonathan Osorio
LM 7 Spain Víctor Vázquez downward-facing red arrow 71'
CF 17 United States Jozy Altidore downward-facing red arrow 85'
CF 10 Italy Sebastian Giovinco Yellow card 43'
Substitutes:
GK 1 United States Clint Irwin
DF 15 United States Eriq Zavaleta
MF 8 Spain Ager Aketxe upward-facing green arrow 85'
MF 14 Canada Jay Chapman upward-facing green arrow 71'
MF 54 Canada Ryan Telfer
FW 22 Canada Jordan Hamilton upward-facing green arrow 57'
FW 87 Canada Tosaint Ricketts
Manager:
United States Greg Vanney

Man of the Match:
Rodolfo Cota (Guadalajara)[1]

Assistant referees:[5]
Gerson López (Guatemala)
Christian Ramírez (Honduras)
Fourth official:[5]
Kimbell Ward (Saint Kitts and Nevis)

Match rules[45]

Statistics

Statistic[63] Guadalajara Toronto FC
Goals scored 1 2
Total shots 23 9
Shots on target 8 3
Saves 1 7
Ball possession 55% 45%
Corner kicks 6 4
Fouls committed 9 16
Offsides 1 0
Yellow cards 0 2
Red cards 0 0

Post-match

Guadalajara's win was the thirteenth consecutive Champions League or Champions' Cup title won by a Mexican team.[59] As a result, Guadalajara qualified for the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup as CONCACAF's representative.[59]

Toronto FC's Jonathan Osorio and Sebastian Giovinco won the tournament's Golden Boot and Golden Ball, respectively.[64] Guadalajara's Rodolfo Cota and Rodolfo Pizarro won the tournament's Golden Glove and the Best Young Player, respectively.[65][66]

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