Cruz Azul thrash Vancouver Whitecaps to win CONCACAF Champions Cup
A dominant performance in front of an ecstatic home crowd saw Cruz Azul join Mexican rivals America as the most successful clubs in the 60-year history of the competition and also secured them a spot in the 2029 Club World Cup.
Vicente Sanchez was only appointed Cruz Azul's coach in January and while there have been reports suggesting he may leave the club he said his only focus was on repaying the faith shown in him.
"Giving back to the people who trusted in me is the best thing that can happen, today we are giving an international title to Cruz Azul," the Uruguayan told reporters.
"The truth is that I live in today, I'm happy, I don't think about the future."
The hosts struck early, taking the lead in the eighth minute as Carlos Rotondi slid in to square the ball for captain Ignacio Rivero, who calmly finished in a one-on-one.
Lorenzo Faravelli doubled the lead 20 minutes later, winning back the ball and unleashing a superb strike that curled in off the far post, before Angel Sepulveda added another from close range in the 37th minute.
Mateusz Bogusz made it 4-0 seconds before the break and Sepulveda scored his second goal with a powerful header five minutes into the second half as he became the tournament's top scorer with nine goals.
Major League Soccer side Vancouver failed to record a single shot in the entire match and were left frustrated in their bid to become the first Canadian team to win the continental title.
"We came with hope and aspiration and ambition, of course now there's devastation," Vancouver coach Jesper Sorensen told reporters.
"We made a great tournament, we've beaten great teams on our way but today we couldn't put on a performance to beat a really good team like Cruz Azul, that's how sometimes it is with sports.
"I feel sorry for the players... to win we needed our best performance and today it was quite the opposite. Cruz Azul was just better in every aspect." - Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Al Hilal face ban from 2026-27 Saudi Super Cup
HOLDERS Al Hilal will be banned from the 2026-27 Saudi Super Cup if they qualify after withdrawing from this season's four-team competition, the Saudi Arabia Football Federation's (SAFF) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee said on Tuesday. The decision came after Al Hilal pulled out of the Super Cup, scheduled to be played from August 19-23 in Hong Kong, citing player fatigue following their Club World Cup campaign. They lost 2-1 to Fluminense in the quarter-finals on July 4. "Al Hilal refused to participate in the Saudi Super Cup for the 2025-2026 season after the official schedule for the competition was issued," the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee said in a statement. "As a result, the committee ruled that Al Hilal had violated Article (59-3) of the Disciplinary and Ethics Regulations and fined the club 500,000 Saudi Riyals (US$133,000) to be paid to the SAFF," the statement added. In addition to the fine, the club was banned from participating in the 2026-27 Super Cup and stripped of any financial awards allocated for this season's competition. The committee said the decision is subject to appeal. Al Hilal have been asked for comment. They won the Super Cup by beating Al Nassr last season for a record-extending fifth title. The Saudi Super Cup is contested by the winners and runners-up of the King's Cup and Saudi Pro League. Al Hilal finished second in the 2024-25 Pro League behind Al-Ittihad. Al Hilal, who were due to face King's Cup runners-up Al Qadsiah in the Super Cup semi-finals on August 20, have been replaced by AFC Champions League winners Al Ahli. Since Al-Ittihad won the Pro League and King's Cup, the extra Super Cup spot was awarded to Al Nassr - the third-placed team in the league - who they face in the semis on August 19. — REUTERS
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Al Hilal banned from 2026-27 Saudi Super Cup after withdrawal
HOLDERS Al Hilal will be banned from the 2026-27 Saudi Super Cup if they qualify after withdrawing from this season's four-team competition, the Saudi Arabia Football Federation's (SAFF) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee said on Tuesday. The decision came after Al Hilal pulled out of the Super Cup, scheduled to be played from August 19-23 in Hong Kong, citing player fatigue following their Club World Cup campaign. They lost 2-1 to Fluminense in the quarter-finals on July 4. 'Al Hilal refused to participate in the Saudi Super Cup for the 2025-2026 season after the official schedule for the competition was issued,' the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee said in a statement. 'As a result, the committee ruled that Al Hilal had violated Article (59-3) of the Disciplinary and Ethics Regulations and fined the club 500,000 Saudi Riyals ($133,000) to be paid to the SAFF,' the statement added. In addition to the fine, the club was banned from participating in the 2026-27 Super Cup and stripped of any financial awards allocated for this season's competition. The committee said the decision is subject to appeal. Al Hilal have been asked for comment. They won the Super Cup by beating Al Nassr last season for a record-extending fifth title. The Saudi Super Cup is contested by the winners and runners-up of the King's Cup and Saudi Pro League. Al Hilal finished second in the 2024-25 Pro League behind Al-Ittihad. Al Hilal, who were due to face King's Cup runners-up Al Qadsiah in the Super Cup semi-finals on August 20, have been replaced by AFC Champions League winners Al Ahli. Since Al-Ittihad won the Pro League and King's Cup, the extra Super Cup spot was awarded to Al Nassr - the third-placed team in the league - who they face in the semis on August 19. ($1 = 3.75 riyals) - Reuters
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Jobe Bellingham opens up on Dortmund move and Jude comparisons
JOBE BELLINGHAM admitted on Tuesday to having 'anxieties' on following in brother Jude's footsteps after joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Jobe, 19, is two years younger than Jude, who joined Real Madrid in 2023 after three years at Dortmund. A centrepiece of the England national team, Jude has emerged as one of the best players in the world in recent seasons. The younger Bellingham joined Dortmund in June from Sunderland after their promotion to the Premier League. Jobe admitted he understood what the perception would be ahead of the move to Germany. 'It's something you do think about. You have these anxieties, especially me as I'm only young,' Bellingham told reporters at Dortmund's pre-season camp in Austria. 'I'm not perfect. I do think about these things, but that was down to the club convincing me that these things wouldn't have much bearing on me. 'This was a decision I made and it's for myself. My journey is not anyone else's to understand,' he added. Bellingham made his Dortmund debut in the Club World Cup in the United States, scoring once and providing an assist in four games. Like he did at Sunderland, the younger Bellingham wears his first name Jobe on the back of his jersey rather than his last name to avoid comparisons with his sibling. Jobe said his older brother was 'extremely proud -- he didn't have much to say other than 'embrace it',' when he found out he was off to Dortmund, but added 'our conversations aren't usually that serious.' The midfielder, who usually plays in a deeper role than his brother, said he did 'not want to be a superstar... I don't want to be a big character away from the pitch. 'When I play I just want to be one of the highest performing players and get my head down.' Dortmund open their season at Essen in the first round of the German Cup on August 18. - AFP
