Once A Metro - New York Red Bulls in the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions LeagueAccept no substituteshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/21683/metro-fave.jpg2017-04-27T01:42:29-04:00http://www.onceametro.com/rss/stream/121350652017-04-27T01:42:29-04:002017-04-27T01:42:29-04:00Pachuca beats Tigres UANL, wins 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League
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<figcaption>Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>CONCACAF has a new club champion</p> <p id="CUXCGZ">Pachuca extended its extraordinary record in CONCACAF’s annual club championship, winning the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CONCACAF_Champions_League">the fifth regional club title it has won since 2002</a> - and the fifth final it has contested in that time. </p>
<p id="PU569E">Despite their perfect record in the final round of this competition, <em>Los Tuzos</em> were not favorites for this year’s title. UANL was in its third major international tournament final. After losing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Copa_Libertadores">the 2015 Copa Libertadores final</a> and the 2015-16 CCL final, surely this was Tigres’ year? Surely, it wasn’t.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">FINAL - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pachuca?src=hash">#Pachuca</a> 1 (2), <a href="https://twitter.com/TigresOficial">@TigresOficial</a> 0 (1) ... <a href="https://twitter.com/Tuzos">@Tuzos</a> is 2016/17 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCL?src=hash">#SCCL</a> champion! ... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CONCACAF?src=hash">#CONCACAF</a></p>— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/857444646716395520">April 27, 2017</a>
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<p id="PrHONq">Entering the second leg of this year’s CCL final, Pachuca and Tigres were tied, 1-1. That result favored <em>Los Tuzos</em>, who would play 90 minutes at home with the tie-breaking advantage of an away goal. </p>
<p id="yOuBmq">The second leg was a relatively even game, with both sides earning and spurning chances.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Great SAVE for Pachuca by Alfonso BLANCO, No. 13 | <a href="https://twitter.com/TigresOficial">@TigresOficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tuzos">@Tuzos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/scclfinal?src=hash">#scclfinal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ScotiabankFC">@ScotiabankFC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoyAficionado?src=hash">#SoyAficionado</a> <a href="https://t.co/XYMxZeicwn">pic.twitter.com/XYMxZeicwn</a></p>— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/857439069852368896">April 27, 2017</a>
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<p lang="tl" dir="ltr">Great SAVE for Tigres by Nahuel GUZMAN, No. 1 | <a href="https://twitter.com/TigresOficial">@TigresOficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tuzos">@Tuzos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/scclfinal?src=hash">#scclfinal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ScotiabankFC">@ScotiabankFC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoyAficionado?src=hash">#SoyAficionado</a> <a href="https://t.co/f46Kc9MIjR">pic.twitter.com/f46Kc9MIjR</a></p>— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/857439935351197696">April 27, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCLFinal?src=hash">#SCCLFinal</a> Leg 2:<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pachuca?src=hash">#Pachuca</a>: 14 shots, 50% poss., 12 fouls, 192/267(72%) passing<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tigres?src=hash">#Tigres</a>: 17 shots, 50% poss., 16 fouls, 265/292(91%) passing <a href="https://t.co/HSAXDLMfY5">pic.twitter.com/HSAXDLMfY5</a></p>— Jason Foster (@JogaBonitoUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/JogaBonitoUSA/status/857458114307739649">April 27, 2017</a>
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<p id="ftohl1">But the separating factor was not so much shots as fouls, in particular fouls by Tigres on Pachuca, and more particularly still, two fouls by Guido Pizarro. The game turned on a pair of yellow cards handed out to Pizarro - one in the 66th minute and the second in the 78th. </p>
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<p lang="es" dir="ltr">RED CARD Tigres, Guido PIZARRO No. 19 | <a href="https://twitter.com/TigresOficial">@TigresOficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tuzos">@Tuzos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCL?src=hash">#SCCL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ScotiabankFC">@ScotiabankFC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoyAficionado?src=hash">#SoyAficionado</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/scclfinal?src=hash">#scclfinal</a> <a href="https://t.co/EWDjeEJLgr">pic.twitter.com/EWDjeEJLgr</a></p>— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/857443048812400640">April 27, 2017</a>
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<p id="pPnZwn">The foul that got Pizarro sent off was on Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, whose breakaway speed Tigres addressed mostly by hacking, tripping, and otherwise obstructing the Pachuca forward whenever necessary. The sight of Lozano’s acrobatic tumbles whenever he felt an interruption to his movement was so common over both legs that Pizarro couldn’t complain too much about the referee’s decision: Lozano hits the deck at the slightest invitation, and a player already on a yellow card might think a little more carefully about testing the ref’s ability to resist the inevitable result of contact with the Pachuca flyer.</p>
<p id="NJ2hEW">Watching their teammate get sent off for his tangle with Lozano and the fact that the rest of the team was racking up yellow cards played its part in the goal Tigres conceded. Six minutes after Pizarro’s dismissal, the UANL defense backed off Lozano, allowing him to loose a shot on goal that ‘keeper Nahuel Guzman spilled, and Franco Jara tapped in.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">GOAL AND YELLOW CARD Pachuca, Franco JARA No. 29 | <a href="https://twitter.com/TigresOficial">@TigresOficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tuzos">@Tuzos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCL?src=hash">#SCCL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ScotiabankFC">@ScotiabankFC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoyAficionado?src=hash">#SoyAficionado</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/scclfinal?src=hash">#scclfinal</a> <a href="https://t.co/viIqudhXSX">pic.twitter.com/viIqudhXSX</a></p>— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/857444068082810880">April 27, 2017</a>
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<p id="LEJ1bd">Even after conceding in the 83rd minute, Tigres were not out of it: they still needed just one goal to tie the series and push the final into extra time. In the last minute of injury time, Andre-Pierre Gignac had the ball in the net, but he was offside.</p>
<p id="m9uGCb">The final whistle blew on a <a href="http://www.concacaf.com/category/champions-league/game-detail/363079">1-0 win</a> for Pachuca, handing the club its fifth regional club championship with a 2-1 win on aggregate.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pachuca wins Scotiabank CCL title <a href="https://t.co/xMY8NgGN86">https://t.co/xMY8NgGN86</a><a href="https://twitter.com/Tuzos">@Tuzos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TigresOficial">@TigresOficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF">@CONCACAF</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCL?src=hash">#SCCL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoyAficionado?src=hash">#SoyAficionado</a> <a href="https://t.co/YXvJxzvgEj">pic.twitter.com/YXvJxzvgEj</a></p>— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/857465615476563968">April 27, 2017</a>
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<p id="5caQT9">The title was well deserved. Pachuca’s defense, including USA international Omar Gonzalez, was immense in both legs of the final. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://twitter.com/Omar4Gonzalez">@Omar4Gonzalez</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCL?src=hash">#SCCL</a> Champion! <a href="https://t.co/LFmfznr3HB">pic.twitter.com/LFmfznr3HB</a></p>— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/ussoccer/status/857457618503258112">April 27, 2017</a>
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<p id="M2RtNk">Pachuca ‘keeper Alfonso Blanco won the tournament’s Golden Glove award; Hirving Lozano was this year’s CCL top scorer; Franco Jara won the Golden Ball award for best player.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCL?src=hash">#SCCL</a> 2016-17 <a href="https://twitter.com/Allstate">@Allstate</a> Golden Glove Award goes to Alfonso Blanco <a href="https://twitter.com/poncho_blanco13">@poncho_blanco13</a> of <a href="https://twitter.com/Tuzos">@Tuzos</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/scclfinal?src=hash">#scclfinal</a> <a href="https://t.co/4rwztHueGk">pic.twitter.com/4rwztHueGk</a></p>— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/857460155293851648">April 27, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Franco Jara of <a href="https://twitter.com/Tuzos">@Tuzos</a>, awarded the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCL?src=hash">#SCCL</a> 2016-17 <a href="https://twitter.com/ScotiabankFC">@ScotiabankFC</a> Golden Ball Award <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCLFINAL?src=hash">#SCCLFINAL</a> <a href="https://t.co/SGoPcQEbDw">pic.twitter.com/SGoPcQEbDw</a></p>— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/857453462551965698">April 27, 2017</a>
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<p id="cytnxJ">Tigres’ attack misfired at the wrong moments - most tellingly, perhaps, in the first leg when the chances not taken included a missed penalty.</p>
<p id="r7J78s">Pachuca will represent CONCACAF at the Club World Cup <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_FIFA_Club_World_Cup">in December</a>. Tigres will get a chance to have another run at the CCL title in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017%E2%80%9318_CONCACAF_Champions_League">the 2017-18 edition</a>.</p>
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<p lang="es" dir="ltr">La <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FanCam?src=hash">#FanCam</a> captura a los Tuzos celebrando su victoria <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCLFinal?src=hash">#SCCLFinal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoyAficionado?src=hash">#SoyAficionado</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tuzos">@Tuzos</a> v <a href="https://twitter.com/TigresOficial">@TigresOficial</a> <a href="https://t.co/76XyvYrxnT">pic.twitter.com/76XyvYrxnT</a></p>— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/857468745882718208">April 27, 2017</a>
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https://www.onceametro.com/2017/4/27/15446512/pachuca-beats-tigres-uanl-2016-17-concacaf-champions-league-hirving-lozano-franco-jara-highlightsAustin Fido2017-04-25T21:20:25-04:002017-04-25T21:20:25-04:00The second leg of the CCL final will be live-streamed on Twitter
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<figcaption>Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The last match of the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League is going to be the first of its kind broadcast live on Twitter.</p> <p>CONCACAF has announced that the second leg of the <a href="http://www.concacaf.com/article/concacaf-and-twitter-announce-live-stream-partnership-for-scotiabank-concacaf-champions-league-final?utm_content=sf73206880&utm_medium=spredfast&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=CONCACAF&sf73206880=1">2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League final</a> - Pachuca vs Tigres UANL on April 26 - will be live-streamed on Twitter.</p>
<p>It will be, per the federation's press release, "the first global live football championship ever streamed on the platform". Free via CONCACAF's Twitter handle - <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF">@CONCACAF</a> - whether you're logged in or logged out to the social media site.</p>
<p>The match kicks off at 10:00 pm, Eastern, on Wednesday, April 26.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">CONCACAF and Twitter Announce Live Stream Partnership for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCLFinal?src=hash">#SCCLFinal</a> <a href="https://t.co/nSumrRmE49">https://t.co/nSumrRmE49</a> <a href="https://t.co/SoWBrOWKGO">pic.twitter.com/SoWBrOWKGO</a></p>
— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/856932143469088773">April 25, 2017</a>
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<p>CONCACAF's Tweet-streaming won't end with CCL. The federation has also announced that the latter stages of the 2017 Men's U-17 Championship will be streamed on Twitter also. Those games get started <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_CONCACAF_U-17_Championship">on May 1</a>.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Llegue a Pachuca, quien será el último equipo en quedarse conmigo <a href="https://twitter.com/Tuzos">@Tuzos</a> o <a href="https://twitter.com/TigresOficial">@TigresOficial</a>? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TrophyTour2017?src=hash">#TrophyTour2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/UyfSp5jHS5">https://t.co/UyfSp5jHS5</a> <a href="https://t.co/h7tRZhBJke">pic.twitter.com/h7tRZhBJke</a></p>
— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/857021507792494592">April 26, 2017</a>
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https://www.onceametro.com/2017/4/25/15429788/2016-17-concacaf-champions-league-final-live-streamed-twitter-pachuca-uanl-tigresAustin Fido2017-04-19T12:56:33-04:002017-04-19T12:56:33-04:00Tigres and Tuzos tie, 1-1, in first leg of 2016-17 CCL final
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<p>Both CCL finalists have good reason to believe they can win the title after the first leg.</p> <p>This year's CONCACAF Champions League final looked a lot like a coronation for Tigres UANL. Historically a team of modest achievements, UANL has turned itself into <a href="http://www.espnfc.com/mexican-liga-mx/22/blog/post/3105767/tigres-the-magic-behind-liga-mx-fifth-grande-and-concacaf-best-team">a Liga MX heavyweigh</a>t in recent years, winning two of the last three top-flight titles in Mexico, and making the finals of the 2015 Copa Libertadores and 2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League. And it landed in its second consecutive CCL final having just completed pair of thumping home wins in Liga MX: surely, this would be Tigres' moment to claim an international title at the third attempt, furthering the claim that the team is the best in Mexico and CONCACAF.</p>
<p>But in the third minute of the first leg, a deflected free kick handed Pachuca - almost forgotten in pre-game discussion of Tigres' manifest strength, depth, and good form - an early lead.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="pt">GOAL Pachuca, Raul LOPEZ No. 6 | <a href="https://twitter.com/TigresOficial">@TigresOficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tuzos">@Tuzos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCL?src=hash">#SCCL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoyAficionado?src=hash">#SoyAficionado</a> <a href="https://t.co/CyD12AjPM7">pic.twitter.com/CyD12AjPM7</a></p>
— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/854522824127631362">April 19, 2017</a>
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<p>Not just the lead, but also an away goal - the first tiebreaker if this home-and-away series ends all square.</p>
<p>Tigres responded with heavy pressure; an equalizer seemed inevitable. And it came in the 32nd minute, when Pachuca 'keeper Alfonso Blanco stretched to intercept a cross but fumbled the save, presenting Ismael Sosa with a tap-in.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="in">GOAL Tigres, Ismael SOSA No. 18 | <a href="https://twitter.com/TigresOficial">@TigresOficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tuzos">@Tuzos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCC?src=hash">#SCC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoyAficionado?src=hash">#SoyAficionado</a> <a href="https://t.co/sUkDNQl00z">pic.twitter.com/sUkDNQl00z</a></p>
— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/854533866979291138">April 19, 2017</a>
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<p>If that was how <i>Los Tuzos</i> were going to (mis)handle Tigres' pressure, it was going to be a long night for Pachuca. The visiting team got to half-time with the score still 1-1, and even made it halfway through the second half without conceding again. But Tigres forced another error in the 66th minute: Pachuca captain, Erick Gutierrez, made a frantic effort to block a shot on goal - and conceded a penalty.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">YELLOW CARD Pachuca, Erick GUTIERREZ No. 15 | <a href="https://twitter.com/TigresOficial">@TigresOficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tuzos">@Tuzos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCL?src=hash">#SCCL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoyAficionado?src=hash">#SoyAficionado</a> <a href="https://t.co/Jj7JYncaF3">pic.twitter.com/Jj7JYncaF3</a></p>
— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/854539811583123457">April 19, 2017</a>
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<p>Blanco turned from villain to hero, saving Eduardo Vargas' spot kick. And Pachuca held on for <a href="http://www.concacaf.com/article/tigres-pachuca-battle-to-draw-in-sccl-final-opener">the 1-1 draw</a>.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tigres 1-1 Pachuca Highlights | <a href="https://twitter.com/TigresOficial">@TigresOficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tuzos">@Tuzos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCL?src=hash">#SCCL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ScotiabankFC">@ScotiabankFC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoyAficionado?src=hash">#SoyAficionado</a> <a href="https://t.co/zsSiXCdRts">pic.twitter.com/zsSiXCdRts</a></p>
— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/854573731313614848">April 19, 2017</a>
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<p>Tigres had the opportunities to make the second leg of this final almost irrelevant to the outcome, but didn't take them.</p>
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<p>The first-leg result sets up a grand finale for this year's CCL. UANL will remain favorite for the title because it remains, fundamentally, a very good team. Also, it has been in this position before in this tournament: in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016%E2%80%9317_CONCACAF_Champions_League_knockout_stage#UNAM_v_UANL">quarterfinals</a>, Tigres tied Pumas, 1-1, in the first leg; UANL won the second leg on the road, 3-0.</p>
<p>But Pachuca has seen this sort of situation too. Tigres has played both the quarterfinals and semifinals of this edition of CCL as the lower seed - playing the second leg on the road and appearing to enjoy the challenge. Pachuca has been the higher seed for every stage of this year's knockout rounds, and it has always appeared to have given its opponent a chance after the first leg.</p>
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016%E2%80%9317_CONCACAF_Champions_League#Bracket">In the quarterfinals</a>, <i>Los Tuzos</i>' 0-0 draw with Saprissa in the first game meant the Costa Rican club would be in a strong position to advance if it could find a goal in Pachuca: it didn't. <i>Los Tuzos </i>romped past Saprissa with a 4-0 second-leg win. In the semifinals, a 2-1 loss in Dallas put further pressure on Pachuca - which it handled with a 3-1 win over FCD at home in the second leg.</p>
<p>Neither team in this final lacks the experience or ability to lift the trophy from here. Form and relative squad depth appear to favor Tigres; the first leg result and home advantage in the second make a strong case for Pachuca to upset expectations.</p>
<p>All to play for on April 26 in the conclusion of this season's CCL.</p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2017/4/19/15358148/all-square-2016-17-concacaf-champions-league-final-tigres-uanl-pachuca-1-1-first-leg-highlightsAustin Fido2017-04-17T22:17:01-04:002017-04-17T22:17:01-04:00How to watch Tigres UANL vs Pachuca in the 2016-17 CCL final, 1st leg
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VTWgC3pUotLbLT_CiHC2puazf0Y=/0x0:3359x2239/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54289895/usa-today-9995674.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Tigres host the first leg; Pachuca will seek to weather the storm expected from one of the more potent attacks in Liga MX.</p> <p>This is Tigres' second consecutive CONCACAF Champions League final appearance. The team lost last year's title to America, but should perhaps be regarded as favorite to win this time around. A heavyweight squad has kept UANL reliably in the hunt for trophies for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigres_UANL">the last couple of seasons</a>. In 2015, Tigres won the Liga MX Apertura, and made the final of the Copa Libertadores. In 2016, the team was in the CCL final and won the Apertura again. In 2017, it would surely like to get that CCL title that it missed out on last year.</p>
<p>Nominally at a disadvantage as the lower seed in this match-up, Tigres host the first leg and then must seek to clinch the title in Pachuca. But UANL has been the lower seed in every round of the CCL knockout stage this year, and has yet to stumble. It is also in <a href="http://us.soccerway.com/teams/mexico/club-tigres-de-la-unl/1470/">impressive form</a>: Tigres have won their last two home games by a combined score of 7-0. A win by three or four goals in the first leg of this series could put the CCL trophy out of Pachuca's reach.</p>
<p><i>Los Tuzos</i> are not just here to fulfill the requirement that the CCL winner beat an opponent in the final. Pachuca is a good team in its own right, but it is coming into this game in <a href="http://us.soccerway.com/teams/mexico/club-pachuca/1466/">dismal form</a>: no wins and no goals in its last five Liga MX matches.</p>
<p>Pachuca needs a pick-me-up; Tigres is coming in hot: this looks like a mismatch on paper. But there is quality in both squads - and <i>Los Tuzos</i> have the current top-scorer in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016%E2%80%9317_CONCACAF_Champions_League">this year's CCL</a>, Hirving Lozano, to call on.</p>
<p>Away goals are the first tie-breaker if the two legs end with aggregate scores level, so expect Pachuca to at least try to score a goal, and the likes of Lozano and Franco Jara are quite good at finding the net. Stopping Tigres' attacking juggernaut - Andre-Pierre Gignac, Javier Aquino, Jurgen Damm: to name just three players at the team's disposal - will be the more challenging task for <i>Los Tuzos</i> in the first leg.</p>
<p>Per <a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/2433594/tigres-uanl-vs-pachuca/">livesoccertv.com</a>, here's where to find the game:</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">UANL Tigres vs Pachuca - 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League final, first leg</h3>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">When: 10:00 pm, Eastern; Tuesday, April 18, 2017</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Where: Estadio Universitario, San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo Leon, Mexico</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">TV: Univision Deportes</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Online: fubo.tv; CONCACAF's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/concacafcom/">Facebook page</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/concacaf">YouTube channel</a>
</h4>
<h4>Or here:</h4>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qo68JBhSPcY" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2017/4/17/15323492/watch-uanl-tigres-vs-pachuca-2016-17-concacaf-champions-league-final-tv-start-time-live-streamAustin Fido2017-04-17T08:15:01-04:002017-04-17T08:15:01-04:00A guide to the 2016-17 CCL final
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GMR2Yxh5ENbwJS1j-LnIWklMTf0=/0x73:4225x2890/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54289559/usa-today-9995692.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A little CCL final preview for those seeking a mid-week soccer fix.</p> <p>It is CONCACAF Champions League final time. With the last MLS contenders departed in the semifinals, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016%E2%80%9317_CONCACAF_Champions_League">2016-17 tournament</a> has narrowed to two contenders, both from Mexico's top flight, Liga MX: Pachuca and Tigres UANL.</p>
<p>Pachuca has the more impressive pedigree in CONCACAF's showpiece club competition: it is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CONCACAF_Champions_League#Records_and_statistics">a four-time winner of the tournament</a>. CONCACAF has been running some sort of regional competition for clubs under its oversight since 1962, so it counts for something that all four of <i>Los Tuzos</i>' titles were won in this century. But it has been seven years since <i>Los Tuzos</i> were last Concachampions. That <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_CONCACAF_Champions_League">2009-10 title</a> was Pachuca's first and only under the current Champions League format; the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_CONCACAF_Champions%27_Cup">2002</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_CONCACAF_Champions%27_Cup">2007</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_CONCACAF_Champions%27_Cup">2008</a> trophies were CONCACAF Champions Cups.</p>
<p>Not that format matters all that much. Pachuca has never lost a CONCACAF club championship final, regardless of what the tournament was named at the time: it has qualified for four and won each time. Conversely, Tigres UANL has only been to one regional final, and that was lost. But it was also last year's tournament. UANL was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015%E2%80%9316_CONCACAF_Champions_League">the 2015-16 CCL runner-up</a>, and is back in the final this year, (still) looking to win its first CONCACAF club championship.</p>
<p>So Pachuca has the better overall record in the competition, Tigres has enjoyed more recent success. Either way, since Mexican super-club America won the last two editions of CCL, CONCACAF will have a new club champion at the end of this series.</p>
<h4>The Basics</h4>
<p>The eight teams entered into the knockout rounds were seeded, and the two finalists are ranked based on those seedings:</p>
<p><span><b>Tigres UANL (5) vs Pachuca (3)</b></span></p>
<p>The teams play each other home and away with the winner decided by aggregate score.</p>
<p>The higher-seeded team has home field advantage for the series, hosting the second leg. Away goals are the tie-breaker if aggregate scores are level at the end of 90 minutes of the second leg. If the teams are tied on aggregate goals and away goals after two legs, there will be extra time. Away goals no longer apply as a tiebreaker in extra time. If scores are still tied after extra time, there will be a penalty shoot-out.</p>
<h4>2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League final: Tigres UANL (5) vs Pachuca (3)</h4>
<p><b><i>1st Leg: April 18 - kick-off: 10:00 pm, Eastern</i></b></p>
<p><b><i>2nd Leg: April 26 - kick-off: 10:00 pm, Eastern</i></b></p>
<p><b>How they got here:</b></p>
<p>To go back to the very beginning, Tigres qualified for the 2016-17 CCL by winning <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apertura_2015_Liga_MX_championship_stage#UNAM_v_UANL">the 2015 Liga MX Apertura</a>, back in December, 2015. UANL beat UNAM Pumas in the Apertura playoff final, as the lower seed. Tigres dropped points in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016%E2%80%9317_CONCACAF_Champions_League#Group_G">the CCL group stage</a>, losing to Herediano in Costa Rica. Three wins from four games, however, was ample to get the team into the knockout rounds.</p>
<p>As the fifth seed, Tigres was matched up against the team it beat in the 2015 Apertura final: UNAM Pumas. Once again, Pumas had the higher seeding; once again, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016%E2%80%9317_CONCACAF_Champions_League#Quarterfinals">Tigres prevailed</a>. In the semifinals, UANL faced <a href="https://www.eightysixforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Vancouver Whitecaps</a> - technically the top seed in the tournament, but very much second-favorite against Tigres. A 2-0 win at home in the first leg sent UANL to Vancouver in a strong position, but the Caps scored early in the second leg to keep the game interesting until midway through the second half - when Andre-Pierre Gignac scored his first goal of the tournament and all but ended the contest. A second Tigres goal followed and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016%E2%80%9317_CONCACAF_Champions_League_knockout_stage#Vancouver_Whitecaps_FC_v_UANL">the Liga MX heavyweight was through to the final</a>.</p>
<p>Pachuca is in this competition because it won <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clausura_2016_Liga_MX_championship_stage#Monterrey_v_Pachuca">the 2016 Liga MX Clausura</a> almost a year ago, in May 2016. Los Tuzos beat Monterrey in the playoff final. In <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016%E2%80%9317_CONCACAF_Champions_League_group_stage#Olimpia_v_Pachuca">the CCL group stage</a>, <i>Los Tuzos</i> looked to be cruising to the top seed for the knockout rounds, but tripped up on the final match-day in Honduras against Olimpia. A 4-4 draw saw Pachuca through, but as third seed rather than first.</p>
<p>The slip made little difference, in the sense that Pachuca has been the higher seed for every stage of the knockout rounds. In the quarterfinals, against sixth-seeded Saprissa, <i>Los Tuzos</i> carried a 0-0 draw out of Costa Rica and won the home leg, 4-0. In the semifinals, seventh-seeded <a href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">FC Dallas</a> was the opponent, and Pachuca was once again the higher-ranked team. FCD won the first leg, 2-1. In Pachuca, home advantage proved telling. Though <i>Los Tuzos</i> established a two-goal lead by the 80th minute, FCD found a goal in the 86th, leveling the series at 3-3 with both teams having scored on the road - extra-time beckoned. But Hirving Lozano scored in injury time to settle the series, sending Pachuca to the final as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016%E2%80%9317_CONCACAF_Champions_League_knockout_stage#Pachuca_v_FC_Dallas">the 4-3 aggregate winner of the semifinal</a>.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ngrpBYznARk" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p><b>Where they are now:</b></p>
<p>Tigres secured a place in the next edition of CCL by winning the 2016 Liga MX Apertura, beating America - the team that had denied it the 2015-16 CCL title earlier in the year - in the final. More recently, UANL got off to a slow start in the Liga MX Clausura, widely interpreted as a sign CCL was the higher priority. Whatever the reason for the slump, it has gradually dissipated since Tigres started their CCL knockout rounds campaign in earnest.</p>
<p>Still (it was the same story <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2017/3/14/14917662/preview-2016-17-concacaf-champions-league-semifinals-vancouver-tigres-dallas-pachuca">before the CCL semis</a>) one point outside the top eight in <a href="http://us.soccerway.com/national/mexico/primera-division/20162017/clausura/r36867/">the Liga MX table</a> - the group that will make the Clausura playoffs - UANL is unbeaten in its last four games in all competitions, including the second leg of the CCL semifinal against Vancouver. More pertinently, since it will host the first leg of the CCL final, the team has won its last two home games by <a href="http://us.soccerway.com/teams/mexico/club-tigres-de-la-unl/1470/">a combined score of 7-0</a>. Star striker Andre-Pierre Gignac has scored <a href="http://us.soccerway.com/players/andre-pierre-gignac/3125/">four goals in his last four games</a>(starting with that last match against the Caps). Highly-rated winger Jurgen Damm is fit again, as demonstrated by <a href="http://us.soccerway.com/matches/2017/04/16/mexico/primera-division/club-tigres-de-la-unl/pumas-de-la-universidad-nacional-autonoma-de-mexico/2382234/">a two-goal cameo</a> against Pumas in Tigres' last league outing. If UANL's plan was to hit peak form in time for the CCL final and the Clausura run-in, it seems to be working out very well.</p>
<p>While Tigres is on the rise, Pachuca is stumbling. The win over FC Dallas in the second leg of the semifinals of this competition is the only game <i>Los Tuzos</i> have won in <a href="http://us.soccerway.com/teams/mexico/club-pachuca/1466/">their last seven</a>. And they haven't scored in their last five Liga MX outings. Their last three home games - which includes the last two matches they've played - were 0-0 draws.</p>
<p>Still clinging to eighth place in <a href="http://us.soccerway.com/national/mexico/primera-division/20162017/clausura/r36867/">the Liga MX table</a>, Pachuca looks to be flirting with a miserable spring that could see the team miss out on the CCL title and the Clausura playoffs. Or maybe it has simply been focusing its energy on the forthcoming series with Tigres.</p>
<p><b>Players to watch:</b></p>
<p><a href="http://us.soccerway.com/teams/mexico/club-tigres-de-la-unl/1470/">The Tigres squad</a> is deep and star-studded - it is no accident this team has won two of the last three Liga MX titles and is appearing in its second consecutive CCL final. <a href="http://us.soccerway.com/teams/mexico/club-pachuca/1466/">Pachuca's squad</a> is not too shabby either.</p>
<p>If you're looking for American talent to root for, take your pick: former <a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">LA Galaxy</a> defender <span>Omar Gonzalez</span> is a Pachuca man now; <a href="http://us.soccerway.com/players/jose-francisco-torres-mezzell/14359/">Jose Francisco Torres</a> (a Pachuca product) plays for UANL - both were on the USMNT roster that won <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_CONCACAF_Gold_Cup">the 2013 Gold Cup</a>.</p>
<p>Gignac is Tigres' star man and primary goal threat. Argentine journeyman <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco_Jara">Franco Jara</a> has settled in well at Pachuca and scored 30 goals (and counting) in the last two seasons in Liga MX.</p>
<p>But this CCL final sets up nicely as the potential CONCACAF swansong of two Mexican players who might be destined for the bigger stage of European club competition.</p>
<p>Tigres' 24-year-old winger Jurgen Damm was <a href="http://www.fmfstateofmind.com/2016/6/5/11865342/jurgen-damm-set-to-sign-for-borussia-dortmund">expected to be playing at a top club in Europe by now</a>, and the next transfer window will surely bring another wave of the now customary links to teams across the Atlantic - though UANL is not impoverished and could surely resist the vast majority of offers if desired.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VA7S9ClEzrE" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>Damm <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%BCrgen_Damm">made his name in Liga MX with Pachuca</a>, but has won titles with Tigres. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirving_Lozano">Hirving "Chucky" Lozano </a>may feel he has to follow a similar path, and <a href="http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/hirving-lozano-transfer-rumor-news-pachuca-mexico-040417">has recently stated he is ready for a move to Europe</a>. If Pachuca is going to start scoring again in time to make an impact on this CCL final series, Lozano will likely have something to with it. He is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016%E2%80%9317_CONCACAF_Champions_League#Top_goalscorers">the tournament's top-scorer</a>, and was the last Pachuca player to find the net - he scored the team's last two goals against FC Dalllas <a href="http://us.soccerway.com/matches/2017/04/05/nc-america/concacaf-champions-league/club-pachuca/football-club-dallas/2412806/">in the CCL semifinals</a>.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lSEvHN2VMmM" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>Both players could be in Europe by the end of the summer. Only one can head into next season as a CCL winner.</p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2017/4/17/15321874/preview-2016-17-concacaf-champions-league-final-jurgen-damm-hirving-lozano-tigres-pachucaAustin Fido2017-04-06T01:00:09-04:002017-04-06T01:00:09-04:00Gignac kills VWFC's CCL upset dream
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<figcaption>Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>For about an hour, Vancouver had a chance at an upset. And then Gignac put Tigres in the 2016-17 CCL final.</p> <p>There were very few reasons to believe <a href="https://www.eightysixforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Vancouver Whitecaps</a> might get through to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016%E2%80%9317_CONCACAF_Champions_League">2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League</a> final after losing the first leg of their semifinal against Tigres UANL, 2-0. And <span>Brek Shea</span> wasn't a reason many would have suggested as cause for optimism about the Caps chances of overhauling a two-goal deficit in the second leg. But Shea brought hope to Vancouver fans by scoring the opening goal of the game in the third minute.</p>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">GOAL Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Brek SHEA No. 20 | <a href="https://twitter.com/WhitecapsFC">@whitecapsfc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TigresOficial">@TigresOficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCL?src=hash">#SCCL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoyAficionado?src=hash">#SoyAficionado</a> <a href="https://t.co/fCUHGUI4Up">pic.twitter.com/fCUHGUI4Up</a></p>
— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/849810311217426432">April 6, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<p>And his celebration was memorable too.</p>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="fr" dir="ltr">La célébration de Brek Shea <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFA?src=hash">#FIFA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CCL?src=hash">#CCL</a> <a href="https://t.co/KyJAUzThpM">pic.twitter.com/KyJAUzThpM</a></p>
— Mathieu Lefevre (@matlefevre) <a href="https://twitter.com/matlefevre/status/849807342791163904">April 6, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<p>Two minutes later, Shea was injured and out of the match.</p>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">5' Brek Shea takes a knock and is off the park after scoring the first goal <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCL?src=hash">#SCCL</a> <a href="https://t.co/aqN7elCdCw">pic.twitter.com/aqN7elCdCw</a></p>
— Vancouver Whitecaps (@WhitecapsFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhitecapsFC/status/849807304262332416">April 6, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<p>But he'd made the game more interesting than had been expected. Vancouver chased a second goal for the rest of the first half and close to the first 20 minutes of the second - but Tigres would not be denied. In the 63rd minute, star striker Andre-Pierre Gignac picked a good time for his first goal of this edition of CCL.</p>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="it" dir="ltr">GOAL Tigres, André-Pierre GIGNAC No. 10 | <a href="https://twitter.com/WhitecapsFC">@whitecapsfc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TigresOficial">@TigresOficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCL?src=hash">#SCCL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoyAficionado?src=hash">#SoyAficionado</a> <a href="https://t.co/HhzRFpJ1vY">pic.twitter.com/HhzRFpJ1vY</a></p>
— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/849829265868705796">April 6, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<p>The goal effectively killed Vancouver's chances of springing an upset: down 3-1 on aggregate, but also having allowed Tigres an away goal, the Caps would need to score three times in the last 30 minutes to win the semifinal. When Damian Alvarez scored Tigres' second in the 84th minute, it was already clear the final was out of Vancouver's reach.</p>
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<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="pt" dir="ltr">GOAL Tigres, Damian ALVAREZ No. 11 | <a href="https://twitter.com/WhitecapsFC">@whitecapsfc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TigresOficial">@TigresOficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCL?src=hash">#SCCL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoyAficionado?src=hash">#SoyAficionado</a> <a href="https://t.co/VaSzTQ2Y8Z">pic.twitter.com/VaSzTQ2Y8Z</a></p>
— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/849834305530454017">April 6, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<p>Last year's losing CCL finalist, UANL, will play Pachuca in this year's final. The first leg is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016%E2%80%9317_CONCACAF_Champions_League">on April 19</a>.</p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2017/4/6/15203260/andre-pierre-gignac-tigres-vancouver-whitecaps-concacaf-champions-league-semifinal-2-1-highlightsAustin Fido2017-04-05T02:05:22-04:002017-04-05T02:05:22-04:00Lozano leads Pachuca to 2016-17 CCL final
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TLJ0UOE4WcZg8DLafERZm0iSgCw=/0x93:3402x2361/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54083453/usa-today-9681293.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>FC Dallas fell to a last-minute goal, but surely won some respect for its performance against Pachuca in the 2016-17 CCL semifinals.</p> <p>In the 86th minute, an optimistic <span>Cristian Colman</span> header looked to have spoiled Pachuca's party. Just six minutes after <i>Los Tuzos</i> had settled their home crowd's nerves with a second goal, ensuring at the very least that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/">FC Dallas</a> couldn't win through to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016%E2%80%9317_CONCACAF_Champions_League">the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League</a> final with one successful strike, the visiting MLS side had got itself back into the game. A 2-1 loss for FCD in Pachuca matched its 2-1 win in Dallas: the semifinal would go to extra time.</p>
<p>
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</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">GOAL FC Dallas, Cristian COLMAN No. 8 | <a href="https://twitter.com/Tuzos">@Tuzos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FCDallas">@FCDallas</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCL?src=hash">#SCCL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoyAficionado?src=hash">#SoyAficionado</a> <a href="https://t.co/b95pK3poFk">pic.twitter.com/b95pK3poFk</a></p>
— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/849477265780084739">April 5, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<p>Except it wouldn't. In the last minute of stoppage time, Hirving "Chucky" Lozano scored his second goal of the night - and eighth of the tournament - to send <i>Los Tuzos</i> to the CCL final with <a href="http://www.concacaf.com/article/pachuca-tops-fc-dallas-earns-sccl-final-berth">a 4-3 aggregate win over FCD</a>.</p>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="pt">GOAL Pachuca, <a href="https://twitter.com/HirvingLozano70">@hirvinglozano70</a> No. 8 | <a href="https://twitter.com/Tuzos">@Tuzos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FCDallas">@FCDallas</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCL?src=hash">#SCCL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoyAficionado?src=hash">#SoyAficionado</a> <a href="https://t.co/kh7yc0PpP2">pic.twitter.com/kh7yc0PpP2</a></p>
— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/849475111153520640">April 5, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<p>Perhaps it was for the best that the game didn't got to extra time. After scoring, FC Dallas looked spent, struggling to maintain possession and slow to close down opponents. The MLSers had their chances to score much earlier in the game, but didn't take them. Pachuca, meanwhile, kept up steady pressure on the Dallas goal.</p>
<p>Ultimately, FCD 'keeper <span>Chris Seitz</span> was deceived on each of Pachuca's goals by a bouncing ball in his penalty area.</p>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="pt">GOAL Pachuca, Franco JARA No. 29 | <a href="https://twitter.com/Tuzos">@Tuzos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FCDallas">@FCDallas</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCL?src=hash">#SCCL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoyAficionado?src=hash">#SoyAficionado</a> <a href="https://t.co/ymzXjUg01m">pic.twitter.com/ymzXjUg01m</a></p>
— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/849458194061680641">April 5, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="pt">GOAL Pachuca, <a href="https://twitter.com/HirvingLozano70">@hirvinglozano70</a> No. 8 | <a href="https://twitter.com/Tuzos">@Tuzos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FCDallas">@FCDallas</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCCL?src=hash">#SCCL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoyAficionado?src=hash">#SoyAficionado</a> <a href="https://t.co/CmdN97P58C">pic.twitter.com/CmdN97P58C</a></p>
— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/CONCACAF/status/849482273145724928">April 5, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<p>Lozano scored the last two, both from distance - the second undoubtedly a little fortunate to catch Seitz with his attention on the runner in front of him rather than the ball. But it was fitting that the 21-year-old Pachuca <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirving_Lozano">youth team product</a> was the night's hero: <a href="http://www.espnfc.com/story/3095894/pachucas-hirving-lozano-im-ready-for-european-challenge">it is increasingly likely his days in Liga MX are numbered</a> and his club's fans probably don't have a lot more time to enjoy his work. Chances are that a lot more soccer fans around the world will know Lozano's name after he makes his move to a bigger club, but he will leave some pleasing memories in Pachuca and he still has opportunity to create a few more.</p>
<p>It was also maybe fitting that Pachuca didn't once again get bounced out of CCL by that rarest of regional soccer occurrences: a team from MLS taking the tournament seriously. All MLS teams, of course, say they value CCL, but it is one thing to say that and another to invest time and money into breaking with preseason norms and rewarding advancing in the knockout rounds with increasingly obvious <a href="https://www.fcdallas.com/post/2017/03/31/fc-dallas-takes-2-0-win-friendly-against-club-puebla-reserves-ccl-semifinal-trip">prioritization of the CONCACAF tournament over MLS itself</a>. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/">Montreal Impact</a> did it in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014%E2%80%9315_CONCACAF_Champions_League">the 2014-15 edition</a> and beat Pachuca en route to the final (lost to Club America).</p>
<p>Two years later, <i>Los Tuzos</i> must have been wondering what they did to twice find the needle of a fully CCL-committed MLS team in the haystack of lackluster sides that generally represent the league in the competition. But despite FCD's <a href="https://www.fcdallas.com/post/2017/02/06/preseason-fc-dallas-releases-argentina-preseason-trip-match-schedule">best efforts</a>, Pachuca won out this time around and will get a shot at the title.</p>
<p>FCD already knows it will be back in CCL next year. The tournament will have a new format for its<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017%E2%80%9318_CONCACAF_Champions_League"> next edition</a> - one that won't see the likes of Dallas start playing until 2018 (an earlier Phase 1 will be held later this year). Judging by this year's performances, FCD will be ready. If the other MLS teams have been paying attention to what Dallas has been doing to make itself competitive in CCL, maybe they will be too.</p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2017/4/5/15187900/hirving-lozano-pachuca-3-1-win-fc-dallas-and-2016-17-concacaf-champions-league-highlightsAustin Fido2017-04-05T00:26:16-04:002017-04-05T00:26:16-04:00How to watch VWFC vs Tigres in 2016-17 CCL semifinal, 2nd leg
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FSetKhiugTsI1Alo4zebR0VTdTY=/0x0:3780x2520/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54082439/usa-today-9987074.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Pachuca awaits the winner of this CCL semifinal.</p> <p>The semifinal match-up between <a href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">FC Dallas</a> and Pachuca lived up to expectations in the sense that the MLS team was thought to have sufficient quality, form, and commitment to stay close to its Liga MX opponent. The two teams were competitive over two games, with<i> Los Tuzos</i> winning through to the final thanks to a last-minute goal shortly after FCD had leveled the aggregate score in<a href="http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2017-04-04-pachuca-vs-fc-dallas/recap"> the second le</a>g. And Dallas was just a missed chance or two away from a much better result, perhaps even a win, in Mexico after winning the first leg at home.</p>
<p>The same cannot be said for <a href="https://www.eightysixforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Vancouver Whitecaps</a>, who played the first leg of this semifinal in Mexico and were perhaps fortunate to be sent home with a mere 2-0 loss. The Caps don't look to be the same caliber of team as UANL - on paper or on the evidence of the 90 minutes these sides have played against each other to date.</p>
<p>Still, the game has to be played and Vancouver should not lack for motivation. At home, with the roof of BC Place opened to let Canada's April showers in, maybe the Caps make Tigres sufficiently uncomfortable to turn around a two-goal deficit and find a way to the CCL final. Maybe.</p>
<p>Per<a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/2393799/vancouver-whitecaps-vs-tigres-uanl/"> livesoccertv.com</a>, here's where to find the game:</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center; ">Vancouver Whitecaps vs Tigres UANL - 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League semifinal, second leg</h3>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">When: 10:00 pm Eastern; Wednesday, April 5, 2017</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Where: BC Place, Vancouver, Canada</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">TV: Galavision</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center; ">Online: ESPN Deportes Radio, Univision NOW, fubo.tv, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/concacafcom/" style="font-size: 12px;">CONCACAF Facebook page</a>
</h4>
<h4><b>And the CONCACAF YouTube channel:</b></h4>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oqKPFTAQjfc" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2017/4/5/15187028/watch-vancouver-whitecaps-vs-tigres-uanl-2016-17-ccl-second-leg-start-time-tv-live-streamAustin Fido