CONCACAF Cup Round of 16 – Leg 2, Day 1 | OneFootball

It was a rough day for any squad heading south of the border for the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 fixtures.

Seattle Sounders vs. Cruz Azul

Cruz Azul win 4-1 on aggregate

Gary Striker and I were discussing the Leg 1 nil-nil result on our podcast, and I mentioned Seattle would rue their squandered chances. I then declared with some authority: “Cruz Azul are nearly unbeatable at home.” Called it!

Last night, before a thin crowd  in the Estadio Olímpico Universitario, Azul put a beat down on the visiting Sounders. It wasn’t the most clinical of performances from the home side (only five of their 22 shots were on target), but four of those struck the net. Seattle gamely mustered three shots in the first five minutes, none of which missed by more than a few inches. But that panache and vigor was quickly reined in by Azul’s superior possession. Seattle were forced into defensive mode for the rest of the half, and conceded from Carlos Rodríguez’s lovely header.

The second half didn’t get much better for the visitors. Jordan Morris pulled up with a hamstring issue in the 65th minute, and Paul Rothrock’s clumsy challenge from behind on Érik Lira gave Azul a penalty, calmly converted by Ángel Sepúlveda. Danny Musovski’s opportunistic score from a set piece provided a glimmer of hope to the Sounders, but they never really threatened the hosts after that. Two late goals (83rd and 88th minute) locked it down for Cruz Azul, who move on to face the winner of the América/Chivas match in the CONCACAF quarterfinals.

Cincinnati FC vs. Tigres UANL

Tigres UANL win 4-2 on aggregate

Cincinnati FC could not have had a better start during their visit to Neuvo Léon to take on Tigres UANL. In the 18th minute, Luca Orellano danced through two defenders into the Tigres box before executing a perfect pass back to an unmarked Evander, who duly slotted the ball into the goal. Tigres, controlling the possession, couldn’t manage much in the way of attacking threats before halftime.

The second half was proceeding in Cincinnati’s favor until the 64th minute. A cross from Juan Brunetta got the slightest of touches from Ozziel Herrera, but it was enough to sneak it past Cincy’s keeper Roman Celentano. Buoyed by this goal, Tigres would go on to add two more in the next eight minutes and fully quash any hope that the orange and blue could move on. UNAL will face the winner of the Herediano/LA Galaxy match in the CONCACAF quarterfinals.

Columbus Crew vs. LAFC

LAFC advance 4-2 on aggregate

Bucking the southern travel trend, LAFC headed north to visit the Columbus Crew at Lower Field. Staring a three-goal differential in the face, Columbus had no choice but to come out fast and hope for (lots of) early goals. LAFC was perfectly simpatico with this. After all, in their last game 32% possession was enough to get that three-goal win.

Tonight’s fixture was almost a carbon copy of the first, with a few exceptions. Columbus were far more accurate on the attack, with 7 of their 22 shots on frame. Hugo Lloris, who barely broke a sweat in the opening match, was forced to make five saves. An early goal from Jacen Russell-Rowe (that Lloris should have come out for, IMO) lifted the Crew’s spirit. When Diego Rossi converted a PK in the 45th minute, the yellow and black had to feel strong heading into the dressing room.

The Crew continued their aggressive play into the second half, creating two golden chances in the first twenty minutes, only to have one pulled wide by Russell-Rowe, and another denied by a spectacular save from Lloris. In the fourth minute of stoppage, a lovely curled free kick from Yehven Cheberko was once again swept off the left corner by Lloris’ hand. The 96th minute capper from Denis Bouanga (his third of the tournament) dashed the hopes of what was (tonight at least) a far superior Crew squad.

LAFC will face the winner of the Inter Miami/Cavalier match that will be played in Kingston, Jamaica on March 13th.

The CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals will begin in April.

Read the Leg 1 report here.