Tigres reach CONCACAF Champions League final as Gignac scores

Los Angeles (AFP) – Mexico’s stranglehold on the CONCACAF Champions League will be assured once more after Tigres UANL downed Major League Soccer’s Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 to set up a final showdown with Pachuca.

Mexican teams have been near-invincible in the CONCACAF region’s premier club competition over the past decade, winning every title since 2006.

This year’s finale will be the ninth all-Mexican affair in the past 12 competitions.

Tigres, last year’s beaten finalists, had been in control of the tie against Vancouver after winning the first leg 2-0.

Vancouver raised hopes of turning the tie around however when Brek Shea scored after only three minutes.

Tigres however were able to contain the Canadians thereafter and effectively made the game safe when French striker Andre-Pierre Gignac scored in the 63rd minute to make it 1-1 on the night, 3-1 on aggregate.

Damian Alvarez made the game safe for Tigres in the 84th minute, rounding off a superb flowing move with an emphatic finish high into the roof of the net.

Tigres will now face Pachuca in this month’s final. Pachuca defeated FC Dallas 3-1 on Tuesday to advance to the final.