2014 CONCACAF Champions League final

The 2014 CONCACAF Champions League final was the final of the 2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League, the 6th edition of the CONCACAF Champions League under its current format, and overall the 49th edition of the premium football club competition organized by CONCACAF, the regional governing body of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

2014 CONCACAF Champions League final
Event2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League
on aggregate
Cruz Azul won on away goals
First leg
Date15 April 2014
VenueEstadio Azul, Mexico City
RefereeRoberto García (Mexico)
Attendance24,329
Second leg
Date23 April 2014
VenueEstadio Nemesio Díez, Toluca
RefereeMarco Rodríguez (Mexico)
Attendance20,675
2013
2015

The final was contested in two-legged home-and-away format between two Mexican teams, Cruz Azul and Toluca. The first leg was hosted by Cruz Azul at Estadio Azul in Mexico City on 15 April 2014, while the second leg was hosted by Toluca at Estadio Nemesio Díez in Toluca on 23 April 2014.[1] The winner earned the right to represent CONCACAF at the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup, entering at the quarterfinal stage.[2]

The first leg ended in a 0–0 draw,[3] and the second leg ended in a 1–1 draw,[4] giving Cruz Azul a record-setting sixth CONCACAF club title (and their first during the Champions League era) on the away goals rule.

Background

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For the fifth time in six seasons of the CONCACAF Champions League, the final was played between two Mexican sides. This guaranteed a Mexican champion for the ninth straight year and 30th time since the confederation began staging the tournament in 1962 (including the tournament's predecessor, the CONCACAF Champions' Cup). Both clubs had won the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, with Cruz Azul winning five times (1969, 1970, 1971, 1996, 1997), a record they shared with América, and Toluca winning twice (1968, 2003). During the Champions League era, Cruz Azul had lost in two finals (2009, 2010), while Toluca's previous best record was reaching the semifinals.

Cruz Azul finished top of Group 3 ahead of Herediano and Valencia in the group stage, and were seeded second for the championship stage, where they eliminated Sporting Kansas City in the quarterfinals and Tijuana in the semifinals.

Toluca finished top of Group 6 ahead of Comunicaciones and Caledonia AIA in the group stage, and were seeded first for the championship stage, where they eliminated San Jose Earthquakes in the quarterfinals and Alajuelense in the semifinals.

Road to the final

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Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).

  Cruz Azul Round   Toluca
Opponent Result Group stage Opponent Result
Bye Matchday 1   Caledonia AIA 3–1 (H)
  Herediano 3–0 (H) Matchday 2   Comunicaciones 2–1 (A)
  Valencia 2–1 (A) Matchday 3 Bye
Bye Matchday 4   Caledonia AIA 5–1 (A)
  Valencia 3–0 (H) Matchday 5 Bye
  Herediano 2–1 (A) Matchday 6   Comunicaciones 5–1 (H)
Group 3 winner

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Cruz Azul 4 4 0 0 10 2 +8 12
  Herediano 4 2 0 2 11 8 +3 6
  Valencia 4 0 0 4 4 15 −11 0
Source: [citation needed]
Final standings Group 6 winner

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Toluca 4 4 0 0 15 4 +11 12
  Comunicaciones 4 2 0 2 7 7 0 6
  Caledonia AIA 4 0 0 4 2 13 −11 0
Source: [citation needed]
Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg Championship stage Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg
  Sporting Kansas City 5–2 0–1 (A) 5–1 (H) Quarterfinals   San Jose Earthquakes 2–2 (5–4 p) 1–1 (A) 1–1 (a.e.t.) (H)
  Tijuana 2–1 0–1 (A) 2–0 (H) Semifinals   Alajuelense 3–0 1–0 (A) 2–0 (H)

Rules

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The final was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. The away goals rule was used if the aggregate score was level after normal time of the second leg, but not after extra time, and so the final was decided by penalty shoot-out if the aggregate score was level after extra time of the second leg.[2]

Matches

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First leg

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Cruz Azul  0–0  Toluca
Report
Attendance: 24,329
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cruz Azul
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Toluca
GK 12   Guillermo Allison
DF 5   Alejandro Castro
DF 4   Julio Domínguez
DF 15   Gerardo Flores
DF 57   Emanuel Loeschbor
DF 28   Rogelio Chávez
MF 6   Gerardo Torrado (c)   40'
MF 8   Marco Fabián
MF 33   Mauro Fórmica   66'
FW 9   Mariano Pavone   67'
FW 11   Joao Rojas   81'
Substitutions:
GK 37   Javier Caso
DF 55   David Stringel
DF 53   Horacio Cervantes
MF 7   Pablo Barrera   81'
MF 10   Christian Giménez   67'
MF 20   Achille Emaná   66'
MF 58   Héctor Gutiérrez
Manager:
  Luis Fernando Tena
GK 1   Alfredo Talavera
DF 2   Francisco Gamboa
DF 6   Miguel Ponce   31'
DF 8   Aarón Galindo
DF 4   Paulo da Silva (c)
MF 5   Wilson Mathías
MF 15   Antonio Ríos   71'
MF 11   Carlos Esquivel   90+2'
MF 17   Juan Manuel Salgueiro   86'
FW 27   Isaác Brizuela   84'   84'
FW 7   Pablo Velázquez   36'
Substitutions:
GK 22   César Lozano
DF 20   Miguel Almazán
DF 14   Édgar Dueñas
MF 16   Óscar Rojas   90+2'
MF 18   Emilio Orrantía
FW 23   Édgar Benítez   84'
FW 29   Raúl Nava   86'
Manager:
  José Cardozo

Assistant referees:[5]
José Luis Camargo (Mexico)
Alberto Morín (Mexico)
Fourth official:
César Ramos (Mexico)

Second leg

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Toluca  1–1  Cruz Azul
Benítez   63' Report Pavone   41'
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Toluca
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cruz Azul
GK 1   Alfredo Talavera
DF 4   Paulo da Silva (c)
DF 6   Miguel Ponce   29'
DF 8   Aarón Galindo   87'
MF 16   Óscar Rojas   78'
MF 5   Wilson Mathías
MF 15   Antonio Ríos   55'
MF 11   Carlos Esquivel   53'
MF 17   Juan Manuel Salgueiro   46'
FW 27   Isaác Brizuela
FW 7   Pablo Velázquez
Substitutions:
GK 22   César Lozano
DF 14   Édgar Dueñas
MF 2   Francisco Gamboa   78'
MF 19   Edy Brambila
MF 21   Gabriel Velasco
FW 23   Édgar Benítez   53'
FW 29   Raúl Nava   46'
Manager:
  José Cardozo
GK 1   José de Jesús Corona
DF 4   Julio Domínguez
DF 15   Gerardo Flores
DF 57   Emanuel Loeschbor
DF 28   Rogelio Chávez
MF 5   Alejandro Castro   68'
MF 6   Gerardo Torrado (c)
MF 8   Marco Fabián   89'
MF 33   Mauro Fórmica   67'
FW 11   Joao Rojas   58'   71'
FW 9   Mariano Pavone
Substitutions:
GK 12   Guillermo Allison
DF 14   Luis Amaranto Perea   72'   71'
DF 53   Horacio Cervantes   89'
MF 7   Pablo Barrera
MF 10   Christian Giménez   67'
MF 18   Sergio Nápoles
MF 70   Ismael Valadéz
Manager:
  Luis Fernando Tena

Assistant referees:[6]
Marvin Torrentera (Mexico)
Marcos Quintero (Mexico)
Fourth official:
Fernando Guerrero (Mexico)

References

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  1. ^ "Television Broadcast Schedule Confirmed for CCL Finals". CONCACAF.com. 10 April 2014. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  2. ^ a b "CONCACAF Champions League Regulations 2013/2014" (PDF). CONCACAF.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 November 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Cruz Azul, Toluca play to CCL stalemate". CONCACAF.com. 15 April 2014. Archived from the original on 17 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Cruz Azul wins CCL title, qualifies for FCWC". CONCACAF.com. 24 April 2014. Archived from the original on 25 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  5. ^ "Champions League Appointments Finals Week 1". CONCACAF.com. 14 April 2014. Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  6. ^ "Champions League Appointments Finals Week 2". CONCACAF.com. 21 April 2014. Archived from the original on 23 April 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
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