Columbus stuns Monterrey 3-1 to reach CONCACAF final

MEXICO:

The Columbus Crew reached the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup for the first time in the club’s history on Wednesday after a superb 3-1 away win over Mexican giants Monterrey sealed a 5-2 aggregate victory.

The Major League Soccer champions, defending a 2-1 lead from last week’s first leg in Ohio, advanced to the final thanks to goals from Aidan Morris, Diego Rossi and Jacen Russell-Rowe at Monterrey’s 53,000-capacity Estadio BBVA.

Monterrey, chasing a sixth CONCACAF Champions Cup crown, got off to a dream start when Columbus defender Yeven Tsemberko scored an own goal after 11 minutes.

Monterrey’s Maximiliano Meza sprung the Columbus offside trap and lifted his goal past advancing goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.

The ball bounced off the crossbar and into the net by Tseberko as he turned back to clear the danger.

That left Monterrey ahead on away goals in a 2-2 aggregate tie, and for much of the first half it looked like the Mexican side would add to their tally.

Instead, the Crew had a drive back into the game deep into first-half stoppage time after a screamer by Monterrey goaltender Esteban Andrada.

Andrada was upset as he looked to flick the ball out on the edge of the area. But his effort was blocked by the alert Morris, who raced forward and shot past the offside Andrada to make it 1-1.

Things got better for Columbus just after half-time when Uruguayan striker Rossi put them ahead in the 49th minute.

Alexandru Matan, who had replaced Marino Hinestroza at half-time, got in front of the midfield and slipped a pass to Rossi, who finished charmingly into the bottom corner.

That put Columbus up 2-1 on the night, 4-2 on aggregate, meaning Monterey would have to score three times.

Monterrey pressed forward furiously but Columbus held firm and substitute Russell-Rowe delivered the coup de grace in the 89th minute.

Columbus had a chance to make it 4-1 in stoppage time, but Christian Ramirez’s penalty was saved by Andrada.

The Crew will face Mexican club Pachuca in next month’s final.

The winner of this year’s tournament will earn a spot at next year’s expanded FIFA Club World Cup, which will see 32 teams compete in the finals in the United States.

Columbus is trying to become only the fourth MLS team to be crowned North American, Central American and Caribbean champions after DC United (1998), Los Angeles Galaxy (2000) and Seattle Sounders (2022).