There was no shortage of magical moments from the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League, yet these five stand out from the 26 matches played.
Cruz Azul strikes twice in stoppage time
Heading into the Round of 16 series between Portmore United of Jamaica and Mexican giants Cruz Azul, there had only been four wins by a Caribbean team against Liga MX opposition in 37 matches. Nevertheless, Portmore United looked set to change that and held a 1-0 lead going into second half stoppage time, but Cruz Azul fought until the end and pulled level in the 90+5 through Lucas Passerini and then stunned the Jamaican hosts with the winning goal in the 90+9’ via Jonathan Rodriguez.
Guzman the hero against Alianza
With less than 20 seconds remaining in the Round of 16 second leg between Tigres and Alianza of El Salvador, Tigres were staring at elimination with the aggregate at 4-4 and the Central Americans owning the away goal tiebreaker. A free kick outside the Alianza penalty area served as a last chance, and seconds later the home fans were deliriously celebrating after GK Nahuel Guzman headed in the free kick to give Tigres an unforgettable 5-4 series win.
Rossi’s curler sinks Club Leon
The Round of 16 series between Los Angeles FC and Club Leon was a heavyweight clash between MLS and Liga MX sides. Club Leon were feeling good about their chances after posting a 2-0 first leg win at home, but LAFC would storm back in the second leg thanks to a pair of goals from Carlos Vela. That set the stage for Diego Rossi’s remarkable winning goal in the 79’, as the Uruguayan received a pass on the left flank, made a move and then curled in a left-footed shot into the top right corner of goal to seal LAFC’s 3-2 comeback win.
Vela vanquishes Club America
LAFC’s march to the Final would not have happened without Carlos Vela’s 85 seconds of magic in the 3-1 semifinal victory over Club America. Down 1-0 and a man against the seven-time Concacaf champions, Vela brought his side level 1-1 just 12 seconds after the start of the second half with a left-footed finish. The Mexican striker had barely stopped celebrating the goal when he did it again 73 seconds later by receiving a long ball from Eddie Segura and hammering a left-footed strike into goal to give LAFC a lead they would not relinquish.
Gignac delivers long-awaited crown to Tigres
Tigres entered the 2020 SCCL Final having lost three of the previous four Finals, but Andre-Pierre Gignac was determined that this year would be a different story. After Tigres DF Hugo Ayala had answered Diego Rossi’s opening goal for LAFC, the moment came for Gignac to deliver the winning strike in the 84’. Luis Rodriguez did well to draw in a pair of LAFC defenders before feeding a pass to Gignac, whose right-footed shot rippled the back of the net to seal Tigres’ first SCCL title.
